Apple Inc briefly became the largest tech company in the world by market capitalization on Wednesday, after surpassing Microsoft Corp's market value, according to Reuters data.

Apple's live market cap rose above $227 billion to overtake Microsoft's and made it the second-largest company on the S&P 500 index. The top spot is held by energy behemoth Exxon Mobil Corp .

(Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)