The Nasdaq 100 index <.NDX> was near session highs and in positive territory on Tuesday afternoon, led by gains in Google Inc and as Apple Inc cut its losses.

Google shares rose 2.2 percent to $637.83 after at least four brokerages lifted their price targets on the Internet giant's stock. Apple, down as much as 6.5 percent on the news its chief executive was taking a medical leave of absence, cut losses in the afternoon to trade down 1.6 percent at $342.93.

Around 70 of the Nasdaq 100 components were in positive territory.

Among the broader benchmark indexes, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 68 points, or 0.52 percent, to 11,849.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 0.59 point, or 0.05 percent, to 1,293.83. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 2.57 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,757.87, slightly off a fresh 52-week high at 2,758.53.

Earlier, the Dow climbed to a fresh 52-week high at 11,858.78 and the S&P 500 rose as high intraday as 1,294.48, which also was a fresh 52-week intraday high.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)

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