Wall Street went on a wild ride Tuesday, after Monday s record losses on the Nasdaq, the largest fluctuations in market value were recorded. This volatility has been attributed to a rumored interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve and to squeamishness with technology investments after the Microsoft judgment. The immediate effect of the ruling should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers. Private markets often react unpredictably to government intervention. The story explains that, in the two years since the antitrust lawsuit was brought against Microsoft, technology has beaten the government to justice.
Today there are a variety of browsers, many available free.
Two other recent news stories shed light on the power of a fast-moving technology marketplace versus the rigid enforcement of laws created before the advent of the automobile. Last night the Associated Press reported that the software company Red Hat Inc. has expanded its agreement with Compaq Computers to distribute the latest version of its Linux operating system. Again, the marketplace has beaten antitrust regulators to justice. After the initial government complaint began to lose credence, antitrust regulators expanded their case against Microsoft. The government complained that Microsoft bullied computer manufacturers into installing their Windows operating system.