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Technology Stocks : Compaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Captain Jack who wrote (79950)	3/23/2000 3:50:00 PM
From: John Koligman	Respond to of 97611

While on the subject of warnings, although a different stock, LU was hit over the past few days, apparently due to a 'fake' warning... Regards, John SEC looks into fake Lucent profit warning By Bloomberg News March 23, 2000, 11:10 a.m. PT WASHINGTON--The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it's investigating a fake profit warning designed to look like a release from Lucent Technologies that was posted on a Yahoo message board. "We are aware of the situation and are looking into it," SEC enforcement director Richard Walker said. Lucent spokesman Jeff Baum said the company contacted the SEC about the phony warning. The posting, which first appeared yesterday, was prepared to look like a PRNewswire release and uses language copied from a January warning by the phone-equipment maker. It said the company expects to report sales of $8.6 billion to $8.7 billion and earnings of 14 cents to 17 cents a share in the fiscal second quarter, which ends March 31. Analysts polled by First Call/Thomson Financial expect profit of 22 cents in the quarter. "It's a fake," said Lucent representative Lynn Newman. "We haven't changed the guidance, and we don't plan to." Shares of Murray Hill, N.J.-based Lucent, which had fallen as much as $2.25 to $60.37, rose $2.25 to $64.87 at midday. Someone using the name "hot_like_wasabe" posted the fake warning yesterday at 3:57 p.m. PST. Later versions by "f1oydian_us" contained a line that readed "this is a joke you idiots" in a standard disclaimer found in genuine Lucent press releases. The line was buried toward the end of the posting. Lucent said it learned of the posting today about 5:30 a.m. PST. Yahoo declined to comment specifically on the posting. The company said it doesn't monitor its message boards, and it will consider removing a posting that violates its service agreement with users. Lucent did warn on Jan. 6 that sales and profit for the quarter would fall short of analyst estimates at that time. It said sales will be $9.8 billion to $10.1 billion and earnings will be 21 cents to 23 cents a share. It's not the first time someone has posted phony news on Yahoo. PairGain Technologies shares rose as much as 31 percent on April 7, 1999, after a bogus story appeared on a Yahoo message board saying the company agreed to be acquired by Israel's ECI Telecom. The story was made to look like an item on the Bloomberg News Web site.

To: Captain Jack who wrote (79950)	3/23/2000 3:52:00 PM
From: marquis103	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 97611

Have to agree here. If Capellas doesn't step up to the plate and deny the rumors, it shows he hasn't learned anything. Every idiot on the street knows what anguish CPQ shareholders have gone through. Carly jumped right up to protect the HWP share price and their investors. If Capellas can't do that for the Compaq shareholders, he's a lot less of a man and CEO than I gave him credit for. Too bad. For awhile I thought we had something here, but that "No Comment" B.S. doesn't get it. Russ

To: Captain Jack who wrote (79950)	3/23/2000 3:54:00 PM
From: Andreas	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 97611

To Thread - CPQ Official refuses to comment on rumors that cpq will miss expectations. That refusal cost us a solid $1.00. Way to go CPQ management!! You guys are amazing. You guys wouldn't know good judgment if it jumped up and bit you in the butt. Smart move - lets keep silent and create an impression that the rumor is true. At least lucent came out and said it was wrong and that they would meet their most recent expectations (albeit reduced).

To: Captain Jack who wrote (79950)	3/23/2000 4:15:00 PM
From: Loki	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 97611

Captain Jack...When the storm is brewing and the waves are high the Captain (CEO) belongs on the bridge. Not cowering behind a policy. Whether the rumor is true or not the CEO needs to stand up for the Company and employees (shareholders too). Otherwise there will be a tremendous (and quick) erosion of trust and credibility. (with those few who still had trust or where building it again). When times are tough, only then is true character shown. We shall witness it now. Loki Rosen is responsible to the shareholders.... Maybe the shareholders should read chapter 3, Corporate Governance....Removal of Directors.