Apple closes at record high $276.57

Climbs $6.35 for the day, passing a record $274.07 set last June

With the iPad set to go on sale the next morning in China and five South American countries, Apple (AAPL) shares rose $6.35 (2.35%) Thursday to close at a record $276.57. The stock is still a couple dollars shy of the record intraday high of $279.01 set on June 21, 2010.

[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]