Apple's share prices soared on Tuesday as media reports began to take it for granted that the vendor would launch its much-talked-about tablet Jan. 27. Apple shares closed at $215.04, up 4.42 percent from Monday's closing price of $205.93. The market appeared to discount Apple's entanglement in a legal thicket -- Cupertino is embroiled in lawsuits with both Nokia and Kodak.

Apple Tablet Fever Has Wall St. Temperatures Rising