BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany - Prosecutors said a probe against senior Volkswagen executives for market manipulation could be concluded this year, after they ordered the carmaker to pay 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to settle claims for emissions cheating.

"On market manipulation, it is possible that there will be a decision this year. A decision does not necessarily mean bringing charges, it could mean closing the proceedings," Braunschweig prosecutor Klaus Ziehe said at a news conference on Thursday.

On Wednesday Braunschweig prosecutors fined Volkswagen for failing to prevent diesel emissions cheating, in what amounts to one of the highest ever fines imposed by German authorities against a company.

Prosecutors are also investigating whether senior Volkswagen executives informed investors in a timely fashion about the size of potential fines faced by the carmaker for cheating U.S. emissions tests.

($1 = 0.8459 euros)

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer Writing by Edward Taylor Editing by Maria Sheahan) ((Edward.Taylor@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1187;))