Apple overtook Microsoft this afternoon as the world's most valuable technology company, and the second most valuable US company behind Exxon Mobil (as if it needed a spotlight).

Apple shares rose 1.8 percent, giving the company a value of $227.1 billion, as shares of Microsoft fell, which gave the company a market capitalization of $226.3 billion, according to the New York Times.

Where's Google, you wonder? A bit behind, with a market cap value of about $150 billion according to Yahoo Finance. Rounding out the top six, as of March 2010, according to the Financial Times Global 500, are Wal-mart, Berkshire Hathaway, and General Electric.