Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: RTev who wrote (30060)	9/25/1999 12:57:00 PM
From: John Donahoe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

RE: A market that reacts so excessively to offhand remarks by a company executive is not a healthy market. If tech stocks were not overvalued, and if thousands of investors did not believe that the market is overvalued and due for a correction, then Ballmer's remarks would have caused nothing but a shrug-line in the charts. Interesting post. Not a "healthy market"? Maybe it's the sign of a "healthy market". Much worry and angst tells me there may be a lot of cash on the sidelines. And remember that old saw the market climbs a wall of worry. Consider: The economy is in great shape. Inflation in check. I predict 2000 is going to be a gang buster year for corporate profits and a great year for stocks.

To: RTev who wrote (30060)	9/26/1999 3:31:00 PM
From: Jon Stept	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74651

RTev- re:"You can't handle the truth..." Hi RTev, Do you want the truth? Well I can't give it to you. I think you will probably find it in the Bible, Koran or maybe in an excellent piece of fiction. And, with all due respect, unless you are Jesus or Moses or Buddha, you can't provide the truth to me. So, save your breath (virtual breath ;) ). I come to SI for facts. And thank you for providing some. However, I think you don't appreciate how many of here are well aware the stock market is at absurd valuations. We know it can go down. Your argument suggests that we all somehow have our heads in the sand, and when Ballmer said what he did, he opened a curtain which we were trying to keep closed. The point, which I think you are missing, we all know the curtain can get opened. The point is this- It is abusive power for Ballmer to open it. As for your references to other instances of Microsoft commenting on it's stock price, your references are very weak. Ballmer was speaking at a technology conference which carries an entirely different expectation than an analyst meeting. Analyst meetings are the only place where anything close to share price is discussed because the audience is investment houses, not a bunch of tech-geeks that will carry back to their enterprises the latest Microsoft gospel. (As for tech-geeks...I proudly count myself among them.) And, as your reference pointed out, it was in the context of traditional share price appreciation, which is an appropriate context for analyst meetings. When Ballmer did it at one of their "get Microsoft religion" ceremonies, it came off as gospel. Thank you again for your post. Just my opinion. Jon :)