Apple Computer Inc surged an impressive 7.28% percent to $69.25 on NASDAQ today, just days before its annual trade show, the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.
Rumours have been rife on the Internet recently, with Apple expected to launch a 1GB flash-based iPod and a sub-$500 iMac at the Expo on Monday. It is such rumours that could be responsible for the sharp rise in Apple share prices recently. Analysts however are reluctant to believe the hype, choosing to wait and see if reports on web sites are true or not.
Analysts also forecast 4 million iPods to be sold in December 2004, double the number sold in December 2003. They also predicted Apple could double again the amount of iPod sales, if they were to release a sub-$150 iPod.
Research firm IDC also forecast that flash-based music players will account for over 50% of the worldwide market by 2008.
Sales of Apple Mac computers however remain low, Apple have less than a 5% market share of global PC sales.