Perfect Timing

Billionaire Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft Corp., sold 24 million Microsoft shares last month for about $2.26 billion. Allen sold his shares in the first week of March at $90 to $98.44, according to a federal filing. The value of Microsoft shares plummeted April 3, when a federal judge ruled that the company had repeatedly broken federal and state antitrust laws. The share price hit a 52-week low Friday, but finished regular trading Monday at $75.88, up $1.75, on Nasdaq. Had Allen waited until Monday to sell, he would have gained only $1.82 billion. An Allen spokeswoman called the sale routine.