Apple shares rise before the bell

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) climbed 1.7 percent before the bell on Monday after brokerage Thomas Weisel raised its rating on the iPod and iPhone maker.

Apple shares rose to $155.74 from a close of $153.08 after the brokerage, according to theflyonthewall.com, raised its rating on the stock to "overweight" from "market weight."

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Tom Hals)