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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Matteo who wrote (27076)	7/21/1999 8:48:00 PM
From: t2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Matteo, Welcome to the MSFT thread. Greg Maffei would definately know of the progress in any settlement with the DOJ. I just don't know if they are able to keep settlement talks a secret. However, the exchange between MSFT lawyers and the DOJ official through the media (when they adjourned) signals that they may have to prevent leaks this time--there is certainly more pressure to do so. I still think the Bristol case win in front of a jury makes the state attorney generals think long and hard about their future political careers. Fighting MSFT is not going to make a lot of friends among the voters----and they are not going to get any funding from this company. These State AGs are probably using their current positions as stepping stones to bigger things and you don't want to put yourself in a position to never get funding from MSFT to help your political aspirations. Might as well settle and declare victory!! I am remaining long on MSFT no matter what. I have hedged some of my shares with ---get this --selling August 95 calls (maybe to you)!!! I don't know if that is a smart decision but i am holding leaps and other MSFT shares that are not hedged. On a net basis, i am still long on the stock. Just worried about the market--it seems ready for a decline. We could get waves of selling in the near term. I hope it is over quickly--by end of July. Of course i could be way off base and we get a big rally, JMHO. The settlement possibility is what i don't want to miss. That should do wonders for MSFT. That is why i hope for a very quick correction so i will cover my short positions. That would still leave me in a somewhat defensive position (significant cash position) but i would not be somewhat bearish as i am now on the market as a whole. Good luck with your msft. BTW---I have been conservative with my call options this time around. I was taking much bigger risks last fall but the market had dropped so much at the time. Recently, i have done mostly in the money calls and still had great gains. If i had stuck to my old methods, i would have raked in a "ton" of dough. A part of my bearishness or defensive could have been the direct result of doing well in the last 2 months. Once one makes money, it seems natural to avoid risking the gains. I think i should be apply psychology to understand how my investing behavior changes after a good run. It just seems natural to me to want to take a break.

To: Matteo who wrote (27076)	7/22/1999 11:23:00 AM
From: Jack Banana	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

I agree with you, MM. That's why I am here, too. Lots of really informative posts from this board's participants have been great. I've been lurking for most of a year now, and I look every day to see what these guys/gals have posted. Thanks to all of you. ....back to lurking --Bry

To: Matteo who wrote (27076)	7/22/1999 11:30:00 AM
From: Teflon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Matteo, great to have you on "Board"!!! Please feel free to add to our discussions whenever you have the desire. This is a great Thread with many valuable participants. The more input the better as far as I'm concerned. Regarding the short term outlook for MSFT and your Aug calls...that's a tough one. I wouldn't get too greedy with them, and if you have the opportunity to get out of them with a small profit, I myself would probably jump on it. Just my opinions, but I am typically more conservative when it comes to MSFT options. One thing I think you'll pick up over time is that many of us try to play MSFT Options only during the period leading up to an earning's release or a split. At least when it comes to Call Options and LEAPS. I always try to be out of all my long MSFT option positions prior to the actual release of earnings or the split execution. Again, these are just my opinions and t2k would probably provide much more sage advice. As always, try to pick a profit point that your happy with, try not to get too greedy with Options, and remember that "Fortunes are made by selling too early" -- one of the best quotes I've ever heard. Welcome aboard, Teflon

To: Matteo who wrote (27076)	7/22/1999 11:49:00 AM
From: codawg	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 74651

>> I have some Aug 95 calls purchased at 4$ last week. Any advice on what I can do very short term. << I have made many options trades in MSFT and others. I think the best options approach is to develop a strategy or method and stick with it. Then refine it over time to make it better. An example of a strategy for this might be: If the option goes up 50% sell half of the position and then use a trailing stop on the remainder. If it goes down 25% then exit. Or, if you are buying for a specific event (earnings, analyst meeting) sell when the event is over. This is just an example and it is not one that I use. My point is to pick an approach and have the discipline to stick with it. This is the best way to profit for extended periods of time.