Stock Market Surges in First Half of 2023, Apple and Microsoft Among Top Performers

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has rebounded in the first half of 2023, with 15 stocks up and 15 down. The top performing stocks in the index include Salesforce (+58.7%), Apple (+46.3%), Microsoft (+39.7%), Intel (+24.5%), and American Express (+16.5%). Analysts expect Apple's gains to continue in the second half of the year, while McDonald's, which has been setting new all-time highs, could be another stock to watch. The Dow Jones will need a combination of positive performance from laggards and continued gains from winners to maintain its upward trajectory.