REDMOND, Wash., July 17, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the expansion of CNBC on MSN® Money ( http://beta.money.msn.com/ ), with new and enhanced features designed to help consumers review, understand and improve their finances. The award-winning online personal finance service builds upon its comprehensive collection of tools and resources, further empowering consumers to research and track investments, pay bills, manage accounts and prepare taxes all in one place.
In light of the challenges that have arisen with todays uncertain economic times, the newest version of CNBC on MSN Money, available live in final form on Aug. 2, provides consumers with an objective, useful resource to help them further understand and improve their finances. With the unbiased StockScouter stock rating system, improved stock research tools, new streaming audio broadcasts of company earnings announcements, invaluable stock-pick analysis tools and more, CNBC on MSN Money empowers users to navigate more easily through market turbulence. In addition, the site continues to expand on its powerful CNBC alliance by introducing an exclusive CNBC TV guest stock pick analysis tool that monitors the performance of stocks selected by on-air guests to help consumers assess the track record of professionals making investment recommendations.
“As todays marketplace has driven consumers to seek more trusted sources for researching investment opportunities, weve enhanced the CNBC on MSN Money Web service to equip consumers with a variety of tools and information to consider before making important money-related decisions,”
said Chris Jolley, director of marketing for the Financial Products Group at Microsoft.
“We will continue to evolve our collection of personal finance offerings to meet consumers changing needs, and thereby deliver the most useful, personalized and comprehensive services available.”
“Consumers spend an average of 24 hours to 30 hours a month stressing over money-related issues such as investing and paying their bills,”
according to analyst firm Meridien Research Inc. To ease their anxieties with timely, accurate and useful resources, CNBC on MSN Money has unveiled the following new and enhanced features, among others:
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CNBC stock pick analysis enables consumers to monitor and analyze stock picks made by financial experts appearing on CNBC TV.
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CNBC TV guest alerts notify consumers via MSN Messenger Service, e-mail or mobile device when executives of companies theyre interested in are scheduled to appear on CNBC TV.
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With the new Funds Transfer feature, consumers can move money among checking, savings and brokerage accounts as well as between financial institutions. The feature is conveniently integrated with MSN Bill Pay, so once a consumer is enrolled in bill pay, he or she is enrolled in funds transfer and vice versa.
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Two of the Webs most highly regarded investing tools the Portfolio Manager and Stock Screener now offer more customized views and more powerful capabilities to help consumers better manage investments.
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The Mutual Fund Research includes expanded, comprehensive information from Morningstar Inc., allowing investors to more efficiently research fund options and monitor their holdings.
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New Markets and Stock Research home pages make it easier to gauge market sentiment and review stock fundamentals. Through an alliance with Multex Inc., a global provider of investment information, investors can view chronological abstracts of key developments for a given company including its earnings or product-related events.
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Taking advantage of increased demands for corporate disclosure in the wake of Regulation FD, the new Earnings Calendar supplies daily or weekly schedules of proposed earnings announcements along with full-length audio conference broadcasts of more than 3,500 company earnings conference calls, midquarter updates, analyst conferences and other corporate events.
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Life Events special reports provide key articles, commentary, tools and step-by-step guides on key life happenings that affect peoples finances including marriage, having a baby, changing jobs and more.
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International versions are now available in 11 countries, including localized sites in Holland, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
CNBC on MSN Money remains tightly integrated with MSN, with the goal of providing consumers with convenient, secure access to their personal financial information any time, any place and on any device. Through this integration, CNBC on MSN Money offers consumers more choices for staying on top of their finances.
About CNBC on MSN Money
CNBC on MSN Money, located exclusively on MSN, is a complete online personal finance service that combines the award-winning finance tools and content from Microsoft, the worldwide leader in software, with exclusive investment news and analysis from CNBC, the worlds most popular financial cable news network. CNBC on MSN Money offers consumers the ability to easily complete a wide range of everyday financial tasks, such as paying bills, viewing account balances, tracking investments, planning for retirement and staying informed with the latest financial news, in one convenient place online any time, any place.
CNBC on MSN Money enables people at all levels of experience to take control of and feel comfortable with their finances, helping them make smart financial decisions. Leading industry publications, including Barrons, Forbes Magazine, Money Magazine, PC Magazine and PC World Magazine, consistently applaud the sophisticated personal finance tools and
information from Microsoft. The service is available at http://www.cnbc.com/ or http://money.msn.com/ , or by visiting MSN.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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