Record quarter by Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft gives way to growth scepticism

Three of the world’s largest companies -- Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. -- reported about $57 billion in combined profit in a record-busting quarter, riding a resurgence in consumer and business spending.

Yet markets responded coolly. In part, investors were skeptical that these companies can continue to post double-digit growth for quarters to come.

The world’s largest tech companies have gotten larger at a torrid rate. Their market valuations have skyrocketed this year as world economies rebounded from pandemic lows -- with both Apple and Microsoft topping $2 trillion in market value -- adding pressure to keep up the