Top three chipmakers could face fines

Regulator probing possible price fixing by Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron

The top antitrust agency might slap fines on three dominant chipmakers including Samsung because of possible monopolistic behavior in the past one or two years, but further action has nothing to do with protecting domestic companies or Sino-US friction on intellectual property rights, according to people taking part in the ongoing investigation.

The investigation conducted by the State Administration for Market Regulation focuses on possible price fixing behavior by South Korea's Samsung, SK Hynix, and US-based Micron in the past one to two years, according to a source who declined to be named as they lacked authority to speak to the media.