BUSINESS BRIEFING / ANTITRUST

Whole Foods Market Inc. and the Federal Trade Commission were granted a joint request to cancel hearings set for this month on possible antitrust remedies to the grocer’s $565-million acquisition of Wild Oats Markets Inc.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington vacated the Feb. 17 and 18 hearings at the request of both parties.

Last week, the FTC said it had agreed to a temporary halt in its review of the takeover to allow both sides to negotiate a possible settlement.