Apple is so big, it’s almost eclipsing France’s market

Apple Inc. continues to rally, with its market value approaching that of the Paris stock market. The iPhone maker’s market value of $3.1 trillion is bigger than all but the six largest stock markets in the world. Luxury-goods companies, such as LVMH and Hermes International, have propelled the French stock market to a record high. Apple’s recent surge is attributed to its structural gross margin expansion, premium positioning of the iPhone, acceleration in services sales, and commodity price benefits.