Federal authorities investigating the collapse of MF Global have expanded their inquiry to include the actions of the CME Group, the operator of the main exchange where the commodities brokerage firm conducted business, according to people briefed on the matter.

CME, which also served as MF Global’s primary regulator, has come under heavy criticism after $1.2 billion in customer money disappeared from MF Global. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the government agency leading the case, is scrutinizing CME’s conduct in the days before MF Global filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 31.

In particular, the commission is reviewing whether CME’s efforts to verify the safety of customer money were sufficient, the people said.

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