Tech investors returned their focus to Apple shares Thursday, pushing the stock up $13.32, or 2%, to $683.11, an in afternoon trading, an all-time high.

Apple continues to increase its status as the world's most valuable company. The computer and gadget maker Wednesday unveiled its latest smartphone,the iPhone 5, which adds many of the features that have become standard with high-end smartphones. Apple also announced it is changing the size of the port used to connect the iPhone to other devices.

It's considered a game-changer for travelers, in addition to the many other updates Apple is touting.

Investors hope the updated iPhone will help Apple regain ground lost in recent years to smartphones made using Google's Android operating system,namely those manufactured by Samsung.

Apple shares previously hit a record high of $680.44 set on Sept. 7. Shares of Apple have soared 68% this year and Wall Street analysts are still extremely bullish. Of the 40 Wall Street analysts who cover the stock, 39 rate it either a "strong buy" or a "buy" and one just rates it a hold.

USA Today