Microsoft's poor share performance Wednesday has been blamed on a memo. Consulting firm SG Cowen believes that a 13-page internal memo from CEO Steve Ballmer discussing open source challenges has weighed on the stock. According to the firm, the memo outlined the company's strategy for addressing its key challenges, including a sluggish economy, lack of enthusiasm for technology, and the emergence of open source software. SG Cowen believes that headlines focusing on the threat from open source put knee-jerk pressure on the stock Wednesday. In contrast, the shares of Linux company VA Software soared 40% in pre-market trading.

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