Apple market value beats Google, Microsoft combined

Apple's market value exceeds Microsoft and Google's combined, new financial results suggest.

The iPhone maker's stock rose by 3% this week off the back of the most profitable quarter in its history, pushing its market cap up to $456 billion (£289bn), AppleInsider reports.

Google's share price fell by 9%, according to the latest figures, while Microsoft recently lost 6% of its Windows revenue. The former's market cap currently stands at around $198.9 billion (£126bn), and the latter's at $256.7 billion (£162bn).

Fortune magazine notes that Apple's current bank balance makes the company's value higher than the gross domestic product of Sweden. It is also estimated to be more profitable than the world's illegal drugs trade.

Apple reported its most successful quarter at the end of last month, announcing earning $13.06 billion (£8.2bn) on sales of 37 million iPhones, 15 million iPads and 5.2 million Macs. Total revenue during the period hit $46.33 billion (£29.3).

The firm became the world's largest company by market cap last August when it surpassed gas station chain Exxon.