Microsoft Gains as Appeal Begins

Microsoft

(MSFT) - Get Report

was up 1.3% in preopen

Island

trading. The software giant today is due to file its first written arguments in its appeal of the decision that it should be split in two for violating antitrust laws. The company is also expected to benefit from a victory by

George W. Bush

, whose administration is considered less likely to pursue the antitrust case.