The stock market has been on a rollercoaster ride in the past six months, with some stocks soaring to new heights while others have struggled to keep up. Here are the top five stocks that have seen the highest returns in the first half of the year.

1. Apple Inc. (AAPL)
The tech giant has seen a 25% increase in its stock price since the beginning of the year. This can be attributed to the strong demand for its latest iPhone models and the company's continued growth in its services segment.

2. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
The e-commerce giant has seen a 20% increase in its stock price, thanks to its strong sales performance and expansion into new markets such as healthcare and grocery delivery.

3. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
The software giant has seen a 15% increase in its stock price, driven by its strong cloud computing business and the success of its Surface devices.

4. Visa Inc. (V)
The global payments technology company has seen a 14% increase in its stock price, as more consumers shift towards digital payments and the company continues to expand its global presence.

5. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)
The banking giant has seen a 12% increase in its stock price, as the economy continues to recover and the company's strong financial performance in the first quarter of the year.

Overall, the market has been driven by strong performances from tech and financial companies, as well as the continued growth of e-commerce and digital payments. Investors are also keeping a close eye on the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, which could have a significant impact on the market in the coming months.