The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is preparing to investigate Microsoft’s cloud computing business, according to multiple reports 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, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

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.

Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) cloud computing business is likely to be investigated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for anti-competitive practices, the Financial Times reported. Shares of the tech giant rose 0.