Silicon Valley search engine Google and technology giant Apple have experienced gains in the stock market, according to reports in the Associated Press (AP).Shares in Google soared to $571.46, representing a continuation of its success from last week, when it peaked at $567.96 on Friday.
Apple shares also increased, reaching $149.85 on Monday after Citi Investment Research analyst Richard Gardner expressed confidence in the company's stocks by increasing his price target for them from $160 to $185.
In a note to clients, Mr Gardner said he raised his target on the basis that he expects to see increased gross margins combined with lower operating expenses.
He also increased his computer sales estimate for the makers of the iPod, raising it from two million units to 2.17 million units for the third financial quarter.
The analyst noted a variety of significant "product catalysts" due for release in coming months, such as the launch of the iPhone in Britain, Germany and France.
Also proving a success on the markets, the world's biggest software maker Microsoft rose by almost three per cent to $29.48 as investors took into account the release of the company's Halo 3 computer game.
According to the AP, Microsoft has stated that 1.5 million copies of the game have been pre-sold.
The latest instalment of the Halo trilogy has just gone on sale in thousands of shops across the US, Australia and New Zealand.
