Facebook rallies 30%, logs best day ever

Facebook shares rallied an impressive 30% Thursday, allowing the stock to book its best one-day gain ever. And while shares remain about 10% below the May 2012 IPO price of $38, analysts are predicting that Facebook is finally on its way to reaching, and even crossing, that threshold.

"Facebook delivered its strongest quarter yet as a public company -- results that we think could be thesis-changing for many," said Doug Anmuth, a MORE

McDonald's: Investors not loving it

You know times must be tough when McDonald's says consumers are struggling. But are diners really too stretched for the Dollar Menu, or is there something else going on?

The fast food giant said Monday that global sales and earnings rose in the second quarter, though profits fell short of analysts' expectations.

McDonald's warned that sales will be "relatively flat" in July and that results will be "challenged" in the second half MORE

Gold plunges to 2-1/2 year low post Bernanke

Gold prices were hit hard in the global market rout that followed Ben Bernanke's latest press conference.

Gold futures fell 6.4% to settle at $1,285.9 an ounce -- its lowest level since September 2010.

The drop extended an ongoing sell-off in the precious metal as investors prepare for an end of the Federal Reserve's stimulus policies, which Bernanke said could begin later this year and culminate in 2014.

Of course, he also said MORE

Why the Dow loves Tuesday

The Dow Jones industrial average has posted gains every Tuesday for the past 20 weeks.

That makes it the longest winning streak for any day of the week since 1900, according to Ryan Detrick, chief technical analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research. The previous record was 13 (a three-way tie between Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

The bulk of the Dow's (DJIA) gains this year were reached on Tuesdays. Detrick said the index has MORE

JPMorgan exec Bisignano departs

Another one of Jamie Dimon's key executives is leaving JPMorgan Chase, the firm announced Sunday.

Frank Bisignano, co-chief operating officer along with Matt Zames, is leaving the bank to run First Data Corp., a payments processing company owned by private equity firm KKR. Zames, who now appears to be the clear frontrunner to lead JPMorgan (JPM) when Dimon retires, will be the sole COO of the bank.

Related: What could cause the next MORE

Wall Street sours on gold

Wall Street is turning its back on gold.

Both Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank lowered their year-end forecast for the precious metal this week, citing an improving U.S. economy.

Goldman slashed its target to $1,545 per ounce for 2013, down from its previously estimate of $1,610. The bank also lowered its outlook for 2014 to $1,350 an ounce, down from an earlier forecast of $1,490.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank reduced its year-end forecast MORE

The other great rotation: Google vs. Apple

The great rotation in the technology sector continues.

Google (GOOG) shares are trading at record highs above $800, while Apple (AAPL) continues to plumb new lows.

Apple's fall from grace isn't directly related to Google's new-found darling status, but the trend is a significant turnabout.

Once the most valuable company on earth, Apple's stock has fallen 42%, dropping from an all-time trading high of $705 in September to a new 52-week low of $419 on MORE

Wall Street CEOs: Who's paid the most

It's that time of year again. Most of the nation's big banks have disclosed how much chief executives earned in 2012. While some had their compensation cut, others received hefty raises.

One caveat: Wells Fargo (WFC) CEO John Stumpf, who received $17.6 million in total compensation in 2011, is not on the list. Wells has not yet disclosed Stumpf's 2012 compensation.

Lloyd Blankfein: $21 million

The CEO of Goldman MORE

After binge, individual investors less bullish on stocks

Individual investors continued to put money into the stock market last week, but the pace has slowed.

U.S. stock mutual funds, a popular investment vehicle for individuals, brought in just over $3.5 billion in the final week of January, according to the Investment Company Institute. That's about $30 million more than the week prior, when flows started to moderate.

Overall, investors have poured $10.3 billion into U.S. stock mutual funds in January.

That's MORE

Research in Motion surges 10% while Apple tanks

Oh, how the tables have turned in the smartphone world ... at least when it comes to stocks.

Apple shares continued to take a tumble, while shares of Research in Motion rallied again. Traders on StockTwits could barely contain themselves.

joemccann
$AAPL breaks below $500. Meanwhile, $RIMM up nearly 25% in less than 2 trading days.

Yes, RIM (RIMM) shares jumped more than 10% Monday. And the mighty Apple (AAPL), the most valuable tech company in MORE