Shares in Apple leapt almost 4 percent after hours following a brief trading suspension. It later backtracked to stand about 2 percent higher, making up the majority of the losses incurred after Jobs' surprise announcement.

An across-the-board show of strength came as Wall Street displayed increasing confidence in the management team surrounding Jobs, who seeks medical treatment for an unspecified condition for an indefinite time.

Investors were widely expecting a strong performance from Apple over the holidays, and the company did not disappoint.