The world's stock markets moved higher overnight, led in part by news technology company Apple is to pay a dividend.

Apple will pay a $2.65 quarterly dividend on its shares, which ended the trading session at $601 each.

The company has a cash balance of almost $100b and has faced pressure to return some of that value to shareholders.

As well as the dividend, the company announced a $10b three-year share buy-back scheme.

The tech giant's latest product, its new iPad, is expected to be released in New Zealand on Friday.