Apple has reached a new milestone and is the first company in the world to achieve a market capitalization of over 3.5 trillion US dollars. On Tuesday, the tech giant ended NASDAQ trading with a market value of 3.57 trillion US dollars, leaving NVIDIA and Microsoft behind.

The Apple stock rose by 0.38 percent in yesterday's trading to $228.68. On Wednesday, it continued its record run, reaching a high of $233.08 and recently increased by 1.88 percent to $232.98. Since the beginning of the year, the value of Apple stock has increased by approximately 21 percent.

Besides the generally positive sentiment in the technology sector, information from sources about the sales target for the new iPhones drove Apple shares up. The company has informed suppliers and partners that it aims for approximately ten percent growth in the delivery of new iPhones compared to previous models, Bloomberg reported, citing confidential sources. Apple is confident that the new features under the name Apple Intelligence will trigger a demand surge when the iPhone 16 goes on sale at the end of this year.

The sales target indicates that Apple expects a stronger year in 2024, even as the company competes with AI-powered smartphones from rivals like Samsung and Xiaomi. The company had a difficult second half in 2023, particularly in China, where Huawei's Mate 60 Pro, with its advanced 7-nanometer processor made in China, convinced consumers. Apple did not comment on the Bloomberg report.

A crucial question for the future will be how Apple will comply with Beijing's AI policies, said Nicole Peng, an analyst at Canalys. Strict Chinese regulations could hinder the company's initial attempts to integrate artificial intelligence into its products.

Thanks to the global boom surrounding artificial intelligence, Apple is currently the world's most valuable publicly traded company with a market capitalization of $3.57 trillion. Close behind is the software giant Microsoft with a market capitalization of $3.46 trillion.

For weeks, the corporations have been fighting for the crown – as early as mid-June, NVIDIA had surpassed Microsoft and Apple with a market value of around 3.31 trillion US dollars, temporarily becoming the most valuable company in the world. However, the tides can turn quickly, and the AI giant has recently slipped back to third place.