What is the sentiment of this news? Please choose an answer from {strong negative/moderately negative/mildly negative/neutral/mildly positive/moderately positive/strong positive}.

WASHINGTON — The head of publishing titan Penguin Random House on Thursday defended his company's deal to acquire rival Simon & Schuster against the government's claim it would thwart competition. But he acknowledged that the merger would buttress his company's position as the biggest U.S. publisher by expanding its market share.
moderately positive