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

To: Dr. Bob who wrote (2814)	7/8/1998 1:23:00 AM
From: Jake0302	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11568

MCI Calls v. WCOM Calls. Why would you go with MCI calls over MCI calls? I am thinking about WCOM Dec55 Calls. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I looks like WCOM recently moved up from 45 to 50. Is this a significant breakthrough? Why isn't WCOM moving up as much as other Internet stocks in the last few weeks?

To: Dr. Bob who wrote (2814)	7/8/1998 12:15:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 11568

Dow Jones - E.U. Merger Clearance Welcomed By WorldCom, MCI July 08, 1998 10:55 AM BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--U.S. telecommunications companies WorldCom Inc. (WCOM) and MCI Communications Corp. (MCIC) Wednesday welcomed the European Union's clearance of their planned merger, saying in a statement that they "anticipate closing the merger this summer." "We are very pleased to have gained European regulatory approval," said MCI spokesman Jim Monroe Wednesday. Telecommunications analysts said the conditions attached to the approval are tough but fair. "There must have been overwhelming evidence that these concessions were necessary," said a London-based telecommunications analyst at merchant bank Robert Fleming. E.U. Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert's tough stance will ensure that the existing level of competition is maintained in this growing sector, the analyst said. E.U. anti-trust authorities have thrown down the gauntlet and said they will block other attempts at merging the five remaining Internet service providers (ISPs) who can provide connections solely though their own peering agreements, said the analyst. MCI and WorldCom are two of the ISPs who can do this. Cable & Wireless, which had agreed to buy MCI's wholesale Internet business for $625 million, will now have to join other companies in negotiating to buy MCI's entire Internet division, said the analyst. "This will have a specific share impact on Cable & Wireless," she said. The analyst said WorldCom and MCI had been "forced to go much further" than they initially hoped, but "the companies think the synergies to be gained are worth it." At 1432 GMT, MCI shares were $1.125, or 1.8%, higher at $62, while Worldcom's shares were 75 cents, or 1.5%, higher at $51.125. -By Grainne Hehir; 32-2-285-0136; ghehir@ap.org