Microsoft top-valued company

Microsoft Corp overtook General Electric Co as the world8217;s top company by market value earlier this month and has held on to that position for a week, based on Monday8217;s closing stock prices. Microsoft, the world8217;s largest software maker, had a market capitalisation of 262.9 billion compared with GE8217;s market value of 240.9 billion on Monday. Microsoft and GE, which started to trade places for the top spot in 1998, have been neck-to-neck in terms of market value for much of this year. Microsoft has lost about a quarter of its value this year, but shares in GE have fallen by nearly 40 per cent.

GE closed up 14 cents, or just over half a per cent, at 24.35 on Monday. Shares in Microsoft closed at 49.29, up 42 cents, or 0.86 per cent.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc was the third-largest company by value with a market capitalisation of 238.1 billion, while number 4 Exxon Mobil Corp was worth 233.4 billion.