Staples Jumps After Judge Slams FTC in Office Depot Merger Case

Shares of Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc. surged on Thursday after a federal judge criticized the actions of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which is attempting to block a merger of the two office-supply chains.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is deciding whether to grant an injunction that would halt the deal, knocked the FTC for attempting to elicit false information from an Amazon.com Inc. executive to bolster its case.