The market value of Microsoft overtakes Apple

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Just four months after Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) has surpassed the $ 1 trillion mark, the iPhone maker has virtually lost its lead as the largest Wall Street company and is about to be replaced by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O).

With a general rebound in US stocks on Monday, Microsoft jumped 3.11% to 106.28 dollars, bringing its market capitalization to a record of 816 billion dollars at midday. At the same time, Apple's shares rose 0.63%, leaving their stock market value at $ 823 billion.

Previously, Apple's shares had fallen and the market capitalization of the two companies was about $ 3 billion, placing them at the same value.

(Chart: Microsoft vs Apple in market capitalization – tmsnrt.rs/2RaGujz)

Technological stocks have been sanctioned in recent months by investor anxiety over rising interest rates and the consequences of a trade dispute between the United States and China.

But Apple has suffered more than the other pillars of Silicon Valley, with a 23% drop since the announcement last November 1 that sales in the crucial quarter of the holidays are likely to miss Wall Street expectations.

Global demand for smartphones has slowed in recent years, making it more difficult for Apple to increase its revenue.

Apple's market capitalization surpassed that of Microsoft in 2010, as the Windows software vendor faced the slow demand for personal computers, due in part to the explosion of iPhone-powered smartphones.