As Apple's market cap passes $300 billion, Citibank reckons the App Store will gross $2 billion in 2011

2011 has only just started but things are already looking good for Apple [NASDAQ: APPL].

For one thing, its share price continues to rise to another all-time high. Indeed, whenever it's over $327, the company's market capitalisation is over $300 billion. It's not a particularly significant number, but good for headlines.

Exxon Mobil remains the largest US company by capitalisation. It's currently worth $375.9 billion so Steve Jobs and co. have some way to go if they want to be #1.

Still, with a good Christmas selling period expected - Apple will announce its 2010 financials on January 18 - most analysts suggest its share price will continue to rise. It would have to reach $410 to best Exxon's current level.

In other news, Citibank released its US Internet Stock 2011 Playbook, which predicted Apple's App Store would clear $2 billion in gross revenue in 2011. According to the 70:30 split, this would see iOS developers and publishers sharing $1.4 billion.

Citibank also cited a Gartner report that predicted the total app market would be $4 billion in 2011, apparently rising to $27 billion by 2013. (Of course, such future thinking is often flawed, with Gartner currently in a very positive mood over the future size of the mobile app and games market.)

[source: TechCrunch]