GLOBAL MARKETS

Bill Gross of PIMCO is concerned about rising interest rates and the decline of the U.S. dollar.

Does a company like Facebook that manufactures no tangible products and employs only about 2,000 people really be worth as much as $50-billion.

Binky Chadha, chief U.S. equity strategist of Deutsche Bank, thinks the S&P 500 will return 23 percent in 2011.

With a pop in its share price on the first trading day of 2011, Apple Inc. (AAPL) has now surpassed the $300-billion level in terms of market cap.

US stocks advanced in early trade on Monday, the first trading day of 2011, on speculation that the economic recovery will continue after stocks ended with double digit gains in the previous year.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Inspire Pharmaceuticals, DryShips, Capitol Federal Financial, Netflix, Intel, Amkor Technology, IMAX, GSI Commerce, and Ctrip.com International.

Robert W. Baird & Co. CEO Paul Purcell speaks to IBTimes about his firm's performance during the financial crisis, navigating the financial services industry after the crisis, and the advantages of being a privately-held financial services firm.

iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT) is set to unveil its newest and the world's smallest floor cleaning robot - iRobot Scooba 230 - making one of people’s least favorite household chores, cleaning the bathroom, a whole lot easier. Just press the Clean button and the robot does the dirty work.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Impax Laboratories, Magic Software Enterprises, Mercadolibre, L & L Energy, ON Semiconductor, Ceragon Networks, ChinaCache International Holdings, Melco Crown Entertainment, and F5 Networks.

The year 2010 saw the metamorphosis of gold from a commodity to a currency, according to analysts. As global currencies weakened in the wake of an influx of unprecedented stimulus and ultra-liberal monetary policies gold extended its bull ride to finish the year with a 30 percent gain.

Vizio, the maker of low-cost LCD TVs, is reportedly planning to launch an inexpensive Android smartphone and tablet computer, challenging Apple and Research in Motion.

Jefferies & Co. downgraded its rating on shares of Sierra Wireless Inc. (SWIR) to 'hold' from 'buy'. However, the brokerage raised its price target on shares of the Canadian mobile modem maker to $15 from $13.

Many observers believe the bond bull has run out of steam, although a 'pop' in the bond bubble is probably unlikely.

Many investment banks and commodity analysts have taken a highly bullish stance on crude oil prices for 2011, based largely on economic recovery in the U.S., continued money-printing by the Federal Reserve (thereby, weakening U.S. dollar) and persistent high demand from the emerging markets, particularly China and India.

Wall Street appears to be almost universally bullish about U.S. stocks for 2011.

Facebook has dethroned Google as the top-visited Web sites in 2010, as well as the most searched term of the year, a report says. Into 2011, it is to be seen whether the search engine giant can regain ground.

S&P Equity Research predicts big developments for the Internet segment in 2011, including continuing challenges for Google, changes at Yahoo, and a cloud offering from Apple.

Many economists believe that US economy will continue to grow around 3.5 percent in 2011, led by pickup in consumer and business spending. The extension of Bush-era rate cuts will add moderately to GDP growth, while at the same time as increasing the budget deficit.

Stocks finish 2010 with a whimper amidst sluggish holiday trading, although equity indices delivered quite a strong year in performance.

Here are the ten worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 index for 2010.

Here are the ten best-performing stocks of the S&P 500 for 2010.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: IMAX, BSQUARE, Corinthian Colleges, and XOMA. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Dell, YRC Worldwide, ARM Holdings, and DryShips.

Time Warner Cable said it is working hard to reach a long-term agreement with Sinclair Broadcasting over carriage of its signals.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to modestly lower opening on Friday, the last trading day of 2010.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Zhongpin, Banner, ChinaEdu, Qiao Xing Universal Resources, LodgeNet Interactive, Golub Capital BDC, United Community Banks, Drugstore.com, Volterra Semiconductor, and Northwest Pipe.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Nanosphere, China BAK Battery, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Cerus, Broadwind Energy, Wonder Auto Technology, Oncothyreon, China Natural Gas, Myriad Genetics, and Immersion.

Stocks fell modestly, despite some encouraging economic data, as investors likely locked in profits given the market’s nice rise in December.

Coal stocks are getting a boost from a research note by an analyst at Simmons & Co. who wrote that prices for U.S. electricity-generating coal have fallen behind international trends, suggesting great upside for domestic coal producers.

US stocks modestly lower in early trade on Thursday despite the Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims fell sharply last week.