Microsoft's stock jumped 7.29 percent today, closing at $34.75 a share, on news that longtime CEO Steve Ballmer will be stepping down. Microsoft's shares had fallen about 40 percent over the course of Ballmer's 12-year tenure, though to be fair, he took the reins from founder Bill Gates during the height of the dot.com bubble.

Also to be fair to Ballmer, Microsoft has remained a money-making machine throughout his tenure, despite the stagnant share price. That said, Microsoft's profits have remained reliant on its dominant Office and Windows divisions, while the Redmond giant has been far surpassed by companies like Google, Apple, and even Samsung in markets where it had every expectation of being a major player.

So, yeah. A lot of missed opportunities on Ballmer's watch. And I'd wager that's what the market is responding to by pushing the stock higher on news of his imminent departure.