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Big profits from Apple and a promise from the Federal Reserve to keep rock-bottom rates for at least two more years powered the U.S. stock market higher on Wednesday.

Tech giant Apple sold 15.4 million iPads in the last quarter, even exceeding analysts' expectations of 13 million units, according to the company's fiscal report released Tuesday.

Motorola Mobility, which is seeking regulatory approval to be bought by Google Inc, has filed a new lawsuit against Apple Inc accusing the iPhone maker of infringing its technology patents.

When Apple Inc set up its customer service plan for the iPhone, it seems to have had the best intentions of humanity in mind -- any phone under warranty can get serviced because it's the phone that's tied to the warranty, not the owner.

The Nasdaq rose on Wednesday, powered by a strong earnings report from Apple, while the Dow and S&P 500 turned higher after the Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates near zero through at least 2014.

The Dow and S&P 500 fell on Wednesday on concerns over Greek debt talks, stalling a strong rally from last year, but the Nasdaq rose on Apple's forecast-beating results.

The surge in shares of Apple Wednesday restored its status as the world’s most valuable company.

Now that Apple, the world’s most valuable company, has reported blowout first-quarter results for its best-ever period, it’s also disclosed holding $97.6 billion in cash and investments.

Now that the iPad 3 has a tentative release date set for early March, rumors abound about the best specs, the coolest features and the biggest upgrades slated for Apple's new tablet. Here's a rundown of everything we know (and what's been proved false) so far, from increased battery power to 4G LTE connectivity and a higher display resolution.

Suppliers basked in the reflection of Apple's glowing results on Wednesday after the company's gold standard iPhones and iPads flew off the shelves over the holiday sales season.

Dow and S&P 500 index futures edged lower on Wednesday as the market continues to show signs of fatigue this week after a strong run from late last year, but the Nasdaq rose on forecast-beating results from Apple Inc .

Instead of dodging questions, Apple's new CEO Tim Cook broke his silence and candidly spoke about the much-hyped Apple TV on Tuesday.

Apple Inc's quarterly results blew past Wall Street's expectations after U.S. consumers snapped up near-unprecedented numbers of iPhones and iPads, sending its shares up 8 percent into record territory.

Jefferies said that Apple's better than expected quarterly results is positive for Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) and Avago Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: AVGO).

Despite missing Wall Street's expectations during the third quarter of 2011, Apple made quite unexpected and almost impossible projections for the holiday seasons. All eyes were on Tim Cook and company with questions in mind whether Apple could deliver. Well, the results are out and it is a monster blowout.

Booming demand for the latest iPhone model helped Apple beat all phones using Google's Android platform in the U.S. smartphone market in the fourth quarter, data showed on Wednesday.

Asian shares rose on Wednesday, underpinned by strong earnings from U.S. technology giant Apple, stabilizing European money markets and falling eurozone debt yields, with investors shifting their focus from Europe to the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Apple Inc's quarterly results blew past Wall Street's expectations after U.S. consumers snapped up near-unprecedented numbers of iPhones and iPads, sending its shares up 8 percent into record territory.

The magic of Steve Jobs may be absent in his successor Tim Cook but Cook's leadership is working well in Apple. On Tuesday, the tech giant has announced that its net profit has more than doubled to $13.06 billion in the fiscal first quarter. The Holiday sale of 37 million units of iPhone and 15.4 million units of iPad sale were seen as the biggest contribution towards the outstanding profit in the holiday quarter. No wonder, iPhone and iPad account for 72% of Apple's total revenue.

Apple Inc's quarterly earnings and forecasts easily beat Wall Street's estimates, helping the technology giant's shares up 7 percent after hours.

Apple's MacBook Air line of thin and light laptops has been a hit since it debuted, but put it up against any number of Windows machines, and one that stands out is the Toshiba Portege. Both are thin and powerful and costing far less than the $2000 for some full size power notebooks.

Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs reportedly met with Ren Ng, the inventor of the revolutionary Lytro Camera, shortly before his death. Could a marriage between the two high-tech companies work?

Apple, the most valuable technology company, reported its most profitable-ever first quarter Tuesday. Buoyed by the new iPhone 4S, consumers rushed to the company’s 361 stores, as well as wireless carriers for the new phones.

Samsung won the latest round of its legal battles with Apple Tuesday when a Dutch judge ruled its appeal insufficient to block Samsung tablets for stealing Apple designs. It's a double victory for Samsung because the Netherlands is an important distribution center for the rest of Europe.

Virgin America, the only Silicon Valley-based airliner owned by billionaire Richard Branson, has named its newest jet after a famous quote from Apple's iconic founder, Steve Jobs. The plane, Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, represents Apple's vision and Branson's admiration for Jobs.

While shares of Apple, the most valuable technology company, fell about 1 percent to $422.37 Tuesday ahead of its first-quarter earnings announcement, TechnoBuffalo editor Jon Rettinger warned the company is swimming in uncharted waters.

The tech giant Apple has reportedly burned $100 million against HTC in the first round of the legal battle between them, Newsweek columnist Dan Lyons wrote, Monday, on his blog.

Brigantine Advisors has raised its first-quarter profit estimate for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) on strong iPhone shipments.

Apple again lost a bid on Tuesday to have Samsung tablet computers banned in the Netherlands in a Dutch appeals case over infringing copyrights of its iPad tablet computer.