Greenspan: Mergers Are No Threat nytimes.com
Sure, Bearded One, AP agrees and I would too, after reading this version of the story. The Reuters story was unclear if Greenspan said anything applying to our favorite co-conspirators, they seemed to imply that he was generally against antitrust though. But the AP story says his remarks were clearly addressing merger activity, which is not main issue in either the Microsoft or Intel suits. Between the Reuters story, what that Neumeyer guy said on the other thread, and the day's MSFT rally I'd thought there might be more to what Greenspan said. I'll watch for the final word from the good gray Times tomorrow.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned Tuesday against overreaction to a national wave of megamergers, saying there is no sign of economic danger. He suggested the government should respect the ''dynamism of modern free markets.''
It's the fifth burst of business mergers this century, Greenspan told senators, and there is little reason to think it will have any more effect than the previous one in the 1980s.
Nothing about Microsoft in this story, and the tone of the story seems to be that Greenspan's remarks didn't much sway anybody in the Congress or Executive. Naive high school civics guy says that seems about right, Greenspan's job is to run the Fed and control the money supply. Of course, Greenspan was a well known Objectivist, it's likely enough he'd be happy to weigh in for Bill if he felt it was appropriate. I'd also guess he won't think it's appropriate any time soon.
Cheers, Dan. |
