NEW RECORD: Apple is Wall Street's most valuable company ever. On Monday, Apple's surging stock propelled the company's value to $624 billion.
OLD RECORD: It beat the record for market capitalization set by Microsoft Corp. in the heady days of the Internet boom.
FACTORS: After a four-month dip, Apple's stock has hit new highs recently because of optimism around what is believed to be the impending launch of the iPhone 5, and possibly a smaller, cheaper iPad.


