Microsoft Stock Drops In Biggest Fall Since 2009

Microsoft Stock Drops In Biggest Fall Since 2009

(By Bill Rigby, Reuters) - Microsoft Corp shares fell their most in almost two years on Friday, a day after the software company reported a dip in its Windows operating system sales.

The world's second-largest tech company behind Apple Inc met Wall Street's profit estimate and beat on overall sales in its earnings report on Thursday.

But investors were concerned with lower personal computer sales nagging at Windows, Xbox sales bringing down profit margins and losses in its online business.

Microsoft shares were down 4.8 percent at $25.41 in afternoon Nasdaq trading, the biggest one-day percentage fall since July 2009.

The shares are back to the level they were at on Monday, before a run-up leading into quarterly earnings. The stock had risen sharply after chip maker Intel Corp forecast revenue above Wall Street estimates, feeding optimism that a dip in PC sales last quarter did not indicate a long-term trend.

"Everyone, including myself, pounded the table on the Intel trade," said BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis. "And it just didn't happen."

The stock is down 18 percent in the last 12 months, compared to a 16 percent gain in the Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Bill Rigby. Editing by Robert MacMillan)

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