A U.S. Appellate Court in Washington today reversed a ruling that would have broken up Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash. In a 7-0 ruling, the appeals court said Microsoft did violate antitrust laws, although the trial judge, Thomas Penfield Jackson of U.S. District Court in Chicago, engaged in "serious judicial misconduct” by making derogatory comments about the company. The appellate court ordered that a new judge decide Microsoft’s penalty.
Shortly before today’s close, Microsoft stock was up 1.225 at 72.365. Trading in the stock on Nasdaq was halted briefly today following the ruling.
