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an unwele distraction for investors, who are struggling through a correction that started in February.Investors searching for further evidence that the economy is improving will be listening closely to forecasts for the rest of the year, including Microsoft39。s. The pany may not make any surprise announcements, but investors are looking to it to find ways to increase its profits since the next version of its Windows operating system isn39。t due until 2006.With almost $53 billion in cash and short term investments, Microsoft could go acquisition hunting, though its wrangling with regulators makes anything beyond a strategic niche purchase unlikely. It also could share more of its wealth with investors, either with a onetime special dividend or by raising its payout on an annual basis.Now that it has dealt with a series of legal issues in the United States and abroad, the pany may be willing to do just that, though probably not next week, Rudy said.It recently settled patent and antitrust suits with SunMicrosystems Inc., InterTrust Technologies and ATamp。T Corp., and last year it put to rest