Apple's post-earnings surge values the company at more than the entire US energy sector, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts wrote in a Thursday note. The tech giant closed Thursday with a $1.17 trillion market cap, maintaining its position as the world's most valuable public company. The S&P 500 Energy index closed with a $1.13 trillion market cap, dragged lower by ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. The iPhone maker's stock surged after impressing investors with its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings. Apple topped Wall Street's estimates for both revenue and profits as its wearable products and online ... (full story)