antitrust laws News

US House Committee Report Finds Wall Street ‘Colluded’ to Curb Emissions

A U.S. congressional committee will accuse the biggest Wall Street firms on Tuesday, in a report seen by Reuters ahead of its publication, of colluding with advocacy groups to force companies to shrink their greenhouse gas emissions. The report is …

US Regulators to Open Antitrust Inquiries of Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia

The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have reached a deal that allows them to proceed with antitrust investigations into the dominant roles that Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia play in the artificial intelligence industry, according to a source …

Global Insurers’ Climate Alliance Relaunches After Member Exodus

A global insurance coalition intended to help curb the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions has relaunched with a new name and weaker membership requirements in response to companies fleeing over allegations of collusion by Republican politicians in the United States. The …

JetBlue, Spirit Airlines Call Off $3.8B Merger on Antitrust Hurdle

Low-cost air carriers JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines canceled their $3.8-billion merger agreement on Monday, seeing no path forward after a U.S. judge blocked the deal in January on anti-competition concerns. A successful deal would have created the fifth-largest carrier …

UnitedHealth Faces Antitrust Probe by US Justice Department

The US Department of Justice has initiated an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group Inc., people familiar with the matter said Tuesday. The probe opens a new layer of scrutiny on the largest US health insurer that operates in pharmacy benefits, …

FTC Sues to Block Kroger’s $24.6 Billion Albertsons Deal

The US Federal Trade Commission, eight states and Washington DC sued to block Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Monday, arguing the tie-up would lead to lower wages for workers and higher prices for groceries. In a complaint …

JPMorgan, State Street Quit Climate Group, BlackRock Steps Back

JPMorgan Chase’s and State Street’s investment arms on Thursday both quit a global investor coalition pushing companies to rein in climate-damaging emissions, while BlackRock said it has transferred its membership to its international arm, limiting its involvement. The decisions together …

Google’s Court Loss to Epic Games May Cost Billions but Final Outcome Years Away

Google’s stunning defeat in a legal battle with “Fortnite” maker Epic Games may clear the way for rival app stores on its Android mobile system but a lengthy appeals process will likely prevent any changes for years, according to analysts …

Microsoft’s OpenAI Investment Risks Scrutiny From US, UK Regulators

The US Federal Trade Commission is examining the nature of Microsoft Corp.’s investment in OpenAI Inc. and whether it may violate antitrust laws, according to a person familiar with the matter. The inquiries are preliminary and the agency hasn’t opened …

Jury Orders Egg Suppliers to Pay $17.7M in Damages for Price Gouging in 2000s

A federal jury in Illinois ordered $17.7 million in damages – an amount tripled to more than $53 million under federal law – to several food manufacturing companies who had sued major egg producers over a conspiracy to limit the …