Stars and Dogs for the week of June 21

Investors who have ingested this pharmaceutical stock have suffered a truckload of side effects over the past decade (in fact, the mere mention of the word "truckload" causes nausea), so it was a relief that the company finally delivered a cure for what's been ailing them. Word that Biovail will merge with California's Valeant Pharmaceuticals sent the stock to a two-year high. (It's now headed for 7-Eleven to buy some Doritos.)

The way Uranium One's shareholders reacted to news this month that a Russian state-run firm had acquired a controlling stake in the company, you'd think Khrushchev was sneaking nukes into Cuba again. But Uranium One's CEO defrosted the Cold War kerfuffle on Bloomberg Television this week, saying the new owners aren't "a bunch of cowboy Russians, it's a very responsible entity." I guess we won't be seeing Slimitri Pickensov riding a missile down Bay Street, then.

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Gammon found out this week that even if you're holding the golden goose, it ain't much good if it stops laying eggs. The company fell well back in the pack of Canadian gold names after being forced to shut its El Cubo mine in Mexico because of a labour dispute, triggering downgrades from a couple of big-name banks. With gold's rally taking a break anyway, investors were happy to look at the end of someone else's rainbow.

Remember when we were blissfully ignorant children and "double dip" was a treat from Dairy Queen? Even when it became a social faux pas on Seinfeld, it was still funny. Not any more. This week's dismal U.S. house-sales numbers had several American economists suggesting that a double dip has already hit the U.S. housing market - bad news for consumer stocks and for anyone in the building-products business. Lucky Home Depot: It's both.

You ever go to, say, an Olive Garden or Red Lobster eatery, and you order something that looks great on the menu, but when it arrives it's a disappointment? This week, Darden - purveyor of the Red Lobster and Olive Garden chains - served up such an unpalatable platter of earnings and guidance that investors sent their stock back to the kitchen. Don't hold your breath for a big tip, guys.