MICROSOFT CORP.'S SHARE PRICE ROSE TO RECORD LEVELS YESTERDAY DESPITE A WARNING BY THE SOFTWARE GIANT OF SLOWING GROWTH IN FISCAL 1998. MICROSOFT REPORTED OUTSTANDING SECOND-QUARTER RESULTS ON FRIDAY AND SPARKED A BROAD RALLY ON THE NASDAQ. BUT MICROSOFT EXECUTIVES WARNED OF A SLOWDOWN IN GROWTH IN FISCAL 1998 WHICH BEGINS JULY 1. BUT MOST INVESTORS DID NOT HEED THE WARNING. ANALYST SCOTT MCADAMS OF RAGEN MACKENZIE SAID INVESTORS ARE HAPPY TO PAY A PREMIUM FOR A COMPANY THAT DOMINATES ONE OF THE BIGGEST GROWTH INDUSTRIES AND CONSISTENTLY SURPASSES WALL STREET EXPECTATION