For the first time in nearly a year, all of Apple Inc.’s US stores have been Open.
That milestone, along with news over the weekend that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway BRK.B,
is still optimistic about its 5.4% stake in the technology giant, Apple shares sent AAPL,
more than 5% on Monday, their biggest gain in more than four months.
Apple closed all its stores outside of China on March 13, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world. The stores in China were closed in February.
But as of Monday, all 270 Apple stores in the US were open in some capacity, although some still have restrictions, such as by appointment only. Texas stores were the last to reopen Monday, after additional delays caused by the paralyzing winter storm in February.
9to5 Mac was the first to report the openings. It also said the only Apple stores to remain closed worldwide are about a dozen in France and Brazil.
A number of US stores had reopened since May, but many had to close again as the pandemic worsened and local restrictions tightened. The reopened stores are seen as something of a bell to local business conditions, and are an encouraging sign of an economic recovery as COVID-19 vaccines become more widespread and cases fall nationwide.
Apple shares were up more than 5% Monday, their best since a 6.4% gain on Oct. 12. Apple shares are down 3.7% so far, but are up 71% over the past 12 months, compared to Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA,
profit of 3% this year and 18% over the past year.