NEW YORK: Apple Inc is within striking distance of a $3 trillion market capitalization, a milestone that would make it as big as the world's fifth largest economy after Germany, just over a year after breaching the $2 trillion mark.

       Shares of Apple were up 1.6% at US$174. They need to trade at $182.85 to hit the mark and cap a strong rally that has been powered by investors betting on its brand and viewing it as a comparative safe haven.

       The stock has jumped about 30% this year on top of an 80% surge in 2020. In comparison, the S&P 500 has risen 25% for the period.

       Its peers in the trillion-dollar club - Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Tesla - have all gained between 10% and 70%.

       "Apple does seem to be more immune to the ebb and flow of economic forces just because of this really strong brand. It's new product pipeline is pretty strong too," Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said.

       "There is an expectation that Apple is still going to come for you even though there have been some weaknesses in getting hold of ...