Microsoft ducks layoff reports

US software giant Microsoft Corp on Thursday reportedly began sending layoff notices to employees, probably thousands of them involved in sales and marketing operations. Media reports about reorganization at the world’s largest software publisher for personal computers began circulating on Monday. However the company — headquartered in Redmond, Washington — has not issued any confirmation. Microsoft currently has about 120,000 employees worldwide, nearly 10,000 more than a year ago. But PC users are increasingly turning to cloud computing for access to its software services, rather than buying its software as a product at a one-time cost.