On Wednesday 19 May, Apple (AAPL34) reached an historic milestone. The company created by Steve Jobs was the first to exceed the 2 billion pound mark in market value, a feat that has seen the company exceed the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 170 countries, including Britain, according to World Bank data.

The use of mass microcomputers today sounds trivial, but it is a feat that would be unlikely without the development of Microsoft software. Abundant net cash, segment leadership and a market value of £1.5 trillion are some of the positive indicators for the investor who wants to become a part owner of the company through shares on the US stock exchange. Microsoft, by the way, is highly established and has been in the financial market for more than 30 years.