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.

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.

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.

Here's what attorneys for the FTC, Kroger and Albertsons said during closing arguments of the hearing that could make or break the grocers' planned $24.6B merger.

If the Federal Trade Commission is granted a preliminary injunction, it will start an internal probe into the merger.

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