Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman Gary Gensler came under further pressure on Thursday after US House Agriculture Committee members criticised his relationship with MF Global chief executive Jon Corzine.

Congressman Tim Johnson said Gensler and Corzine were part of a "Goldman Sachs' fraternity", as Gensler had worked at the Wall Street firm under Corzine in the 1990s. Johnson added that it was "unacceptable" that Gensler had recused himself from giving evidence on MF Global to the House committee due to his ties with Corzine.