Apple Shares Surge Over 4% on M4-powered Macs AI Focus

Apple Inc. shares surged, marking its largest gain of the year with an initial increase of 1.8% and extending to over 4%. The significant uptick in Apple's stock value comes as the company announced plans to release its first M4-powered Macs this year, highlighting a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI). This announcement has sparked a notable rise in investor interest, evidenced by a large uptick in in-the-money (ITM) Call Long-Term Equity Anticipation Securities (LEAPS), signaling strong bullish sentiment towards Apple's stock. The gains extended throughout the trading day, culminating in Apple closing the day more than 4% higher, marking its best trading day since May 5th, 2023.