From the Melbourne Age…

If, at the beginning of 2001, an investor had ignored some noted Wall Street analysts and had bought 1000 shares in Apple, maker of iPods and Macintosh computers, they would have paid about $US7500.

Today, four years later and on Apple’s 30th birthday, that $US7500 investment is worth around $US280,000. There have been two two-for-one stock splits and the shares have ranged this year between $US70 and above $US80. Had the shares been sold last January, for example, the return would have been more than $US340,000.