The global expectations that the fight against inflation is nearing its end and that tight monetary policy will gradually give way to more relaxed monetary policies have bolstered risk appetite worldwide.
Forecasts suggesting that world economies can combat inflation without falling into recession, and that corporate profitability will remain strong, have also propelled stock markets to record levels.
Throughout the first half of the year, the title of the world’s most valuable company changed hands several times, but by the end of June, Microsoft held the top position.
Following Microsoft in terms of market capitalization were Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Saudi Aramco, Meta Platforms, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Berkshire Hathaway, and Eli Lilly. Among the world’s top 10 companies, 8 are from the United States, 1 from Taiwan, and 1 from Saudi Arabia.
By the end of June, in the competition for the title of the world’s most valuable company among Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, Microsoft emerged on top with a valuation of $3.321 trillion, ahead of Apple at $3.229 trillion and Nvidia at $3.038 trillion.
The rest of the ranking consisted of Alphabet (Google) at $2.258 trillion, Amazon at $2.011 trillion, Saudi Aramco at $1.788 trillion, Meta Platforms at $1.278 trillion, TSMC at $901.4 billion, Berkshire Hathaway at $877.88 billion, and Eli Lilly at $815.2 billion.
Nvidia Led the Stock Market Gains Among the Top 10 Companies
In the first half of the year, Nvidia was the best-performing company among the world’s top 10 firms in the stock market. Nvidia’s stock price saw a significant increase of 149.5% since the beginning of the year, rising to $123.54, making it the top performer among the largest 10 companies.
Nvidia was followed by Taiwan’s chip manufacturer TSMC, which saw a stock increase of 67.1%, and Eli Lilly, which gained 55.3% in value.
By the end of June, the top three performing companies among the world’s most valuable ten were Nvidia and TSMC, both operating in the semiconductor and chip industry, while Eli Lilly is active in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Only Loser: Saudi Aramco
Among the top 10 most valuable companies, the fourth company to yield the highest gains to its investors was Meta Platforms, with its stock rising 42.5% during the January-June period to reach $504.22.
Alphabet (Google) shares increased by 30.2% to $183.42, Amazon shares rose by 27.2% to $193.25, Microsoft shares saw an 18.9% rise to $446.95, Berkshire Hathaway shares climbed by 14.1% to $406.80, and Apple shares gained 9.4% to reach $210.62.
As of the end of June, Saudi Aramco, ranked seventh among the most valuable companies and traded on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), experienced a 16.1% decline. Its shares dropped from 33 riyals to 27.7 riyals in the first half of the year.
Saudi Aramco was the only company among the top 10 most valuable firms to exhibit negative market performance in the first six months of the year.
Source
Arwen Volkov, A graduate of the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland with a degree in International Finance, Arwen specializes in sustainable finance and green investments. She began her career at an investment bank in London, where she developed financing models for environmentally friendly projects. Known for her analytical and strategic thinking skills, Arwen is a sought-after financial consultant. In her spare time, she mentors fintech startups, contributing to their growth strategies. She is also a nature enthusiast and an amateur photographer.
