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

To: Valley Girl who wrote (34637)	11/22/1999 10:04:00 PM
From: Paul K	Respond to of 74651

Obstacles greet Microsoft's European interactive-TV strategy Part Two "Microsoft isn't a company to place all its eggs in one basket. It's become big enough and diverse enough that it's well beyond a "bet the company" stage. But if there is one market that could make or break Microsoft's interactive-television strategy, it may be the United Kingdom...." seattletimes.com

To: Valley Girl who wrote (34637)	11/23/1999 1:29:00 PM
From: PMS Witch	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 74651

Look at your portfolio and tell me, what's the biggest dog you're holding? Woof, Woof! It's Dell. I've reduced my exposure to Dell last January. I've been sitting on a large ($1m) margin debt and had enjoyed a large enough appreciation in Dell to not only eliminate my margin debt, but to pay the tax man too. I sold a squeak above $100, watched it go a bit further, watched it come back down, and continue it's slide for most of the year. It's showing some signs of life lately. I've held this stock long enough to observe it's tendency to both fly like a rocket and crash like a rock. I'm no trader. I just own what I like and like what I own. Some days this pays. Some days it doesn't. It works for me. This month, my CSCO position has eclipsed my MSFT. I think CSCO went up a bit too much. Like DELL, CSCO has its ups and downs and tends to move too far in whatever direction it goes. This makes my portfolio vary uncomfortably. However, I invest for profit, not comfort, and accept that decisions made in difficult environments are both the most stomach-churning and rewarding. Throughout the years, Microsoft has made a very positive contribution to my portfolio in two main ways. One, the stock's appreciation since the late 1980s has increased the number of digits and commas on my monthly statements. Two, Microsoft tends to have a stabilizing effect on my portfolio and acts as a stable foundation on which to build more 'exciting' positions. Many times I would've closed a position just before 'party-time', if it wasn't for my Microsoft holdings providing a safety net beneath my 'adventure' and allowing expected events time to play out. Now it's Microsoft's turn to add some excitement. Although I don't need the anxiety of watching this stock 'rotate on the spit' as the flames lick the edges, I realize that investing involves interpreting events and taking a course of action to best exploit those events. I've decided on my response. I'll continue to hold my entire Microsoft position. If things get really, really, ugly, I'll add to my position, perhaps using options. Cheers, PW.