Comcast Advances on AT&T; Unit Deal

Comcast Corp.’s planned $56-billion purchase of AT&T; Corp.’s cable television business cleared a regulatory hurdle at the Justice Department, the companies said.

The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust act expired at midnight. The Federal Communications Commission still must approve the acquisition.

Special Class A shares of Philadelphia-based Comcast rose 43 cents to $23.73 on Nasdaq. AT&T; shares rose 31 cents to $12.63 on the NYSE.