We’ve bought a pile of stocks (and mutual funds) over the past six or seven months. With the year-end deadline near for locking in capital gains or losses, it’s time to give a little more thought to the sell side.

Well, it was a great rally while it lasted. (Yesterday.) Today, the stock market took fright at downbeat earnings reports from Ford and Pfizer — and the Dow plunged 133 points, wiping out yesterday’s entire gain.

Well, it was a great rally while it lasted. (Yesterday.) Today, the stock market took fright at downbeat earnings reports from Ford and Pfizer — and the Dow plunged 133 points, wiping out yesterday’s entire gain.

Financial news outlets are abuzz this morning with reports that Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) may declare a special dividend. Over the weekend, sources told a Paris financial newspaper that MSFT is thinking of paying out more than $10 billion, or roughly $1 per share.

Financial news outlets are abuzz this morning with reports that Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) may declare a special dividend. Over the weekend, sources told a Paris financial newspaper that MSFT is thinking of paying out more than $10 billion, or roughly $1 per share.