Closing Bell: Dow Closes at Record High as Microsoft Surges

The Dow Jones Industrial Average clocked its seventh straight record close on Wednesday, as Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Report shares surged following better-than-expected earnings. As equities climbed, safe-haven assets such as gold retreated, leaving gold producer stocks in the lurch. Barrick Gold (ABX) , Kingross Gold (KGC) - Get Report and Newmont Mining (NEM) - Get Report were each sharply lower. Facebook's (FB) - Get Report Messenger app has reached 1 billion active users, one of the few to boast such a large user base. That puts it in the same league as Facebook's other billion-plus properties, including its namesake mobile app and WhatsApp. Finally, United Continental (UAL) - Get Report climbed after Deutsche Bank (DB) - Get Report maintained its buy rating on positive earnings results. The firm said a solid quarter was driven by lower costs. The airline beat on both the top- and bottom-line. TheStreet's Scott Gamm reports from Wall Street.