Apple leads race to become world's first $1tn company

Tech giants likely to pass record valuation if share price rises echo 2017 performance with Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Facebook in with a chance

The race is on to become the world's first trillion-dollar company, with all eyes fixed on tech giants such as Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

Financial commentators and investors predict 2018 will herald the first firm with a stock market valuation of $1tn (738bn) or more, if technology share prices continue to rise as strongly as in 2017.

The race to become the first $1tn company has opened. Apple has the best shot to be the world's first trillion-dollar company. Requires just a 17% rise in market value from $860bn. The 5 other contenders are Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Tencent. pic.twitter.com/JSdE4lmsCd

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