Judge Adrienne Nelson heard closing arguments Tuesday in the federal case in Portland, Ore., involving the $24.6 billion grocery deal. Nelson said she would take the case under advisement but did not offer a timeline for her ruling.

Analysts and the stock market are weighing in on what they expect to happen as closing arguments have wrapped up in Kroger Co.’s court battle with the Federal Trade Commission seeking approval for its planned $24.6 billion acquisition of rival Albertsons Cos. Inc.

The Federal Trade Commission wants to block the merger. It won’t lower grocery prices, Christopher Tang writes in a guest commentary.

Closing arguments are coming up in the Federal Trade Commission's attempt to block the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons.

The federal government urged a U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday to temporarily prevent a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons, saying in closing arguments the combination would “almost certainly” benefit shareholders and not everyday shoppers.

Kroger argued its merger with Albertsons would lead to immediately lower prices for consumers, but the Federal Trade Commission said the supermarket merger would kill competition and harm the workforce.

Washington state is going to court Monday to try to block a proposed merger between Albertsons and Kroger. The case is one of several challenging the $24.6 billion deal.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission and Kroger and Albertsons ended their three-week court battle the same way they started: diametrically opposed over whether the two grocery rivals should be permitted to join forces.

A decision on the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons could be coming soon as the Federal Trade Commission hopes to get an injunction.

The federal government urged a U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday to temporarily prevent a proposed merger between Kroger — parent company of Ralphs — and Albertsons — parent of Vons, saying in closing arguments the combination would “almost certainly” benefit shareholders and not everyday shoppers.

Attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission and Kroger and Albertsons ended their three-week court battle the same way they started: diametrically opposed over whether the two grocery rivals should be permitted to join forces.