Microsoft rose 1.5% in pre-market trading, with reports of a new round of layoffs According to Golden Finance, on July 1st, Microsoft (MSFT. US) rose 1.5% in pre-market trading to $378.51. On the news front, insiders revealed that Microsoft is planning a new round of layoffs to continue controlling costs. This layoff will affect thousands of positions, including sales and consulting positions, as well as positions in the Xbox gaming department. Microsoft has traditionally laid off employees at the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1st. Last May, the company laid off 6000 positions, and in July, it laid off another 9000 employees.