New Delhi, May 1 -- Apple Inc. shares rose nearly 4 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings, driven by robust demand for its new products.

The Silicon Valley company posted a profit of $29.6 billion on revenue of $111.2 billion for the recently ended quarter, exceeding Wall Street expectations. Apple also issued a higher-than-expected growth forecast and announced a large share buyback programme.

Demand for the new iPhone 17 and MacBook Neo helped drive results, with Mac sales surpassing estimates due to strong performance in the lower-priced laptop segment.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said iPhone sales slightly missed estimates due to chip supply constraints, even thou...