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Shares of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), the No. 1 search engine, hit another record high Thursday of $769.89 before easing to close at a new record close of $768.05, up $5.55.

The new record values the Mountain View, Calif., company at $251.2 billion, behind only Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), the world's most valuable technology company, valued at $625 billion, and Exxon Mobil Corp., valued at $425.7 billion.

Apple shares resumed their slide, closing at $666.80, down 45 cents. They haven’t closed above $700 since Sept. 21. Overall, U.S. stocks gained slightly less than 1 percent in Thursday trading, with the S&P 500 Index closing at 1,461.40.