Tech Central Blog: has the cancer returned?

Steve Jobs, the chief executive of Apple, shocked shareholders and the tech community last night by stepping down from his role while he fights a "hormone imbalance" that has made him lose weight rapidly.

He told employees at the company that he was taking a medical leave of absence until the summer, saying that his health issues "are more complex than I originally thought".

Shares were temporarily suspended before the announcement, and when they reopened, the news of his poor health sent Apple shares spiralling down nearly 10 per cent to $77 in after-hours trading, their lowest level since December 2006.

Mr Jobs, 53, is seen as crucial to the success of Apple. Under his energetic direction, the company has launched a series of famous technology brands, including Macintosh computers, the iPhone, the iPod and iTunes.

In an e-mail, Mr Jobs said that he would take the leave of absence "in order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products".

Mr Jobs disclosed on January 5 that he was being treated for a hormone imbalance that he said he would be able to treat as a nutritional problem.

He said that, since that time, "I have learnt that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought."

"As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan."

Tim Cook, the chief operating officer of Apple, is to take over the day-to-day running of the company.

He ran Apple when Mr Jobs took time off four years ago to be treated for pancreatic cancer.

It is likely that his present condition is linked to the major surgery he had at that time to beat the cancer.

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