AMSTERDAM, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The Dutch market

regulator said on Thursday it needed more powers to investigate

deals at its own level, a day after the European Union antitrust

regulators said they would not take action against Microsoft's ( MSFT )

hiring of artificial intelligence startup Inflection's

staff.

In a statement, the Netherlands Authority of Consumers and

Markets (ACM) said it remained to be seen if that deal will have

any "negative consequences" for consumers and businesses in the

country.

"That is why we believed that an investigation was

necessary. The ability to assess the effects of these types of

acquisitions and to prevent market power does not exist at this

moment," said Martijn Snoep, ACM's chairman of the board.

"In order to be able do so, ACM requires a new power. It

would also restore the ability of ACM to refer these types of

acquisitions that have effects across Europe to the European

Commission."