Apple's share price on NYSE is likely to fall today

It is likely that Apple will see its New York Stock Exchange share price fall today following the announcement from CEO Steve Jobs yesterday that he plans to take a leave of absence.

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Day in the US, and as a result the NYSE was shut for trading. It will reopen today at 09.30am EST (14.00pm GMT).

This speculation comes from the fact that the Frankfurt markets saw Apple shareholders facing at a fairly significant drop in prices yesterday.

These markets saw Apple's share price fall from €263.69 (£220.38) to €237.07 - a 10 per cent drop.

Jobs' email to Apple employees read as follows:

Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.

I have asked Tim Cook (Chief Operating Officer) to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve

Jobs was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, and since then has undergone surgery and a series of treatments. In 2009 he took six months leave to have a liver transplant.