RETAILING

Approval of Macy-Federated Merger Expected: The marriage of the once-fierce rivals, Macy & Co. and Federated Department Stores Inc., will bring to an end nearly three years in Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Macy. It will also form the nation’s biggest department store chain, with more than 335 stores and annual sales exceeding $14 billion. Barring last-minute hitches, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Burton R. Lifland will confirm the plan today. Federated will pay off more than $4 billion of Macy’s debt and Macy will emerge from bankruptcy status later this month.