daytrade diaries... may 22 part 2, page-50

Buckaneer I think if the secretary had come out and said 'yes there will be an announcement' then he probably would have contravened some kind of insider trading laws. He was probably legally obliged to say nothing.
From what you said about the way he worded it, he was trying to cover his butt.
Maybe he thought you were the insider trader police?

As far as affecting people's decisions I think everyone here understands that whatever people say - new or old - the thing is to DYOR and suffer consequences, one way or another, regardless.
At least you had the gumption to actually call the company!
And next time you do it you might be more sneaky in the way you ask your questions, or ask questions that are more relevant to things he or she is allowed to talk about :).
What I like about trading (quite apart from the lottery style excitement when things go well) is the way it teaches me about myself!