Investors looking for a little relief from the generally downbeat news on technology stocks will find it when Microsoft reports first-quarter earnings after the closing bell Thursday.
Most analysts expect the world's largest independent software company to hit or exceed the company's forecast of revenue in the range of $8.5 billion to $8.6 billion and diluted earnings per share of 45 cents or 46 cents for the second quarter of fiscal 2003, which ended Dec. 31. Analysts and investors will focus on the details of deferred revenue, as well as the larger question: Will a bullish performance by Microsoft signal the beginning of a recovery for the battered technology sector?
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