By Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Facebook Inc. marked its 10th
anniversary on an upbeat note on Tuesday, as its stock led a
tech-sector rally.
Facebook (FB) gained 2.1% to close at $62.75 a week after the
company blew past Wall Street estimates and its results underscored
a strengthening position in the online ad market. Facebook shares
have risen 15% year-to-date.
In a statement marking the anniversary, co-founder and Chief
Executive Mark Zuckerberg said: "It's been an incredible journey so
far, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it."
"It's been amazing to see how people have used Facebook to build
a real community and help each other in so many ways," he added.
"In the next decade, we have the opportunity and responsibility to
connect everyone and to keep serving the community as best we
can."
Gains also came from other Internet stocks, as shares of Google
Inc. (GOOG) gained 0.4% to close at $1,138.16 and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO)
rallied 2.2% to close at $35.66. Apple (AAPL) rose 1.5% to close at
$508.79, while Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) added 1% to close at $28.33
and Zynga (ZNGA) advanced 2.2% to close at $4.59.
Shares of Twitter (TWTR) gained 1.6% to close at $66.32 ahead of
its first quarterly report as a publicly-traded company. Twitter
will report financials after the market closes on Wednesday.
On the other hand, shares of LinkedIn fell 1.4% to close at
$212.33. LinkedIn reports on Thursday.
Microsoft (MSFT) shares initially rose after the tech giant
named Satya Nadella as its new CEO. But they later retreated,
ending down 0.4% at $36.35.
Other tech stories from MarketWatch:
What Facebook will look like in 10 years
Will Bill Gates pull a Steve Jobs at Microsoft?
Microsoft's safe choice for CEO could surprise investors
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