The sound of champagne corks popping in Redmond, Wash., is turning out to be the shot heard across the continent. Since a federal court judge signed off on the Microsoft (MSFT ) antitrust settlement on Nov. 1, its shares have surged some 7%, closing at $56.68 on Nov. 5. And the party has spread to the rest of the Street, prompting a high-tech mini-rally. Now comes the hard part. With the sword of Damocles no longer hanging over its head, the Colossus of Redmond faces a host of demanding challenges.
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