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 stay afloat. Here are the top five stocks that have seen significant gains 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 the services sector.

2. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
The e-commerce giant's stock has surged by 30% in the past six months, thanks to its dominance in the online retail space and its expansion into new markets such as healthcare and advertising.

3. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Microsoft's stock has seen a 20% increase in value, driven by the company's strong financial performance and its successful transition to a cloud-based business model.

4. Visa Inc. (V)
The global payments technology company has seen a 20% 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's stock has seen a 15% increase, fueled by the strong performance of its investment banking and wealth management divisions.

Overall, the market has been driven by the strong performance of these top companies, as well as the optimism surrounding the US-China trade talks and the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates steady. However, with ongoing trade tensions and global economic uncertainties, it remains to be seen how these stocks will perform in the second half of the year.