Attorneys for Kroger and Albertsons insisted the deal would boost competition by strengthening both companies as a unified company, repeated company promises to lower grocery pric

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

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.