Apple’s strong quarterly results and mounting excitement over its product launch today pushed shares of the iPhone maker sharply higher yesterday.

Apple shares rose 4 per cent to $211.26 on Nasdaq in early afternoon trading.

At least seven brokerages raised their price targets on Apple a day after the technology giant posted big gains in profit and revenue in the December quarter, helped by strong Mac sales and surging international growth. “We see a lot to like in Apple’s results,” Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner wrote in a research note.