Free from the financial burdens of trying to buy rival Albertsons, shares of supermarket giant Kroger were sitting at new highs on Thursday.

Key Takeaways Kroger shares rose Thursday morning after the retailer said it is abandoning the Albertsons merger and restarting stock buybacks.The grocery chain said after the bell Wednesday that it will begin a new $7.

The supermarket chain had tried to join forces with Kroger, but judges sided with federal and state regulators who charged that the merger would reduce competition.