The FTC is reportedly readying an investigation into whether Microsoft used anti-competitive tactics to maintain a dominant position in the cloud market.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft's cloud computing business, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The Financial Times, referencing unnamed “people with direct knowledge of the matter,” reported that the FTC is examining allegations that Microsoft is abusing its market power by imposing punitive licensing terms to prevent customers from moving their data from Azure to other platforms.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft's cloud computing business, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Enterprise software juggernaut Microsoft, like most tech stocks, had started September on the wrong foot. Microsoft stock reversed bullishly, gaining more than 3% for the month. During Thursday's morning session,

The Federal Trade Commission, led by Lina Khan, had previously sought public feedback on Microsoft's cloud computing business.