Apple passed $400B market cap briefly today, set all-time company high of $431 a share

Hot off the heels of Apple’s iBook Textbooks and iBooks Author announcement, the Cupertino, Calif.-based Company passed a $400 billion market cap briefly today, AllThingsD pointed out. Apple also saw a new company record of $431 a share this afternoon —up $2 from yesterday’s record. As the afternoon continued on, Apple’s market cap went down to $398 billion again, but it is still close to coming back. For comparison, the world’s most valuable company, Exxon, has a market cap of $417 billion. Apple was at one time the most valuable company in 2011.

As CNN Money pointed out, Apple with a market cap of $400 billion is worth more than the countries Greece, Austria, Argentina, and South Africa.

Apple dominated financially in 2011, and it continues in 2012. Next Tuesday, the company will report what is expected to be record earnings from Q4. Apple is also expected to break past the sales of 5 million Macs and up to 30 million iPhones, some analysts claimed. We will be covering Apple’s financial announcement next Tuesday. Stay tuned!

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AAPL reaches all-time high of $429 a share, market cap closes in on $400B

With an announcement tomorrow in New York City and an earnings call on Jan. 24, Apple Inc., has reached an all-time high of $429.47 per share on today’s market, and it closed at $429.11. Being up more than four points today, Apple is continuing to close in on a $400B market cap and sits at just $398.70B at closing.

Apple is expected to have had a record breaking Q1, which will be reported in an earnings call with CEO Tim Cook on Jan. 24. With the help of holiday sales, some analysts predict Apple sold 5 million Macs and around 30 million iPhones.

Tomorrow’s media event in New York City also added to today’s stock frenzy. Apple is expected to make a major announcement in the textbook industry. There have been many reports that Apple made the necessary partnerships with publishers, and may even launch its own textbook creation tool — which Ars Technica called a “GarageBand for e-books.” Apple teased the event as an education announcement. Per usual, 9to5Mac will be covering both events. Tomorrow’s event begins at 10 a.m., so stick with us for coverage. Any final predictions?

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AAPL closes the day at all time high of $411.63, up 2.8%

We’re not sure exactly what caused today’s spike, but Apple stock had a huge day ending up 2.8% at $411.65 a share for a Market Cap of $381.62B against a down market. It had reached as high as $413.23 from a morning low of $395.20. Notably, Apple is now worth over $23B more than Exxon and is approaching the combined value of Microsoft and Google.

AAPL is now most valuable company in the world (Update: Closes lower than Exxon)

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Apple just passed Exxon in Market Cap to become the world’s most valuable company. Quite a turnaround for a company that was on its last legs just over a decade ago.  AAPL passed the 400 mark last month on the back of monster earnings news but fell sharply as the US market plummeted over the last week.  Luckily for Apple, it didn’t fall nearly as sharply as Exxon, in the face of lowered oil costs.

The markets are still open and volatile today but at this moment, 1:19PM EDT, Apple’s market cap is at $341.53B while Exxon Mobile’s is at $341.51B.

Congratulations Apple!

Update 2:00EDT: Apple is now on top by over $1B (image below)

Update2 4PM ET. AAPL closed at $346.74B, Exxon rallied at the end of the day to $348.32B

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AAPL hits 400

Apple briefly hit 400 during after hours trading following the blowout earning release last week, but then fell into the 380s for the open the following day. Since then, it has been on a swift rise back up to 400 where it briefly hit at 12:54 ET today. It has fallen slightly since.

Apple’s market cap is nearing $370B, second only to Exxon who is currently near $410B. (thanks York!)

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