Apple Bites Microsoft, Becomes World's Most Valuable Tech Company

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.