Benzinga’s Afternoon Gainers (AAPL, VCI, RIMM, STLD, AKS)

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares have gained over 3% to $195.79 on 15.78 million shares. An Oppenheimer analyst made a comment that Apple is ramping production on the much-anticipated tablet. So far this year, AAPL has gained over 129%.

Valassis Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VCI) has moved up over 20% to $19.58 on an unusual volume of 1.73 million shares after Valassis announced 2010 full-year earnings guidance that tops Wall Street’s expectations. Valassis is projecting earnings per share of $2.48 cents in 2010.

Research In Motion Limited (USA) (NASDAQ: RIMM) shares are up by 6.13% to $64.91 on 17.64 million shares. So far this year, RIMM is up about 60%.

Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD) rose 5.73% and trading at its highest point of the day of $18.42. In the last one month STLD has gained over 26%.

DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV) has jumped 5.61% to $57.23 on an unusual volume of 1.63 million shares. In the past six months, DV has gained over 22%.

AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS) soared 6.4% to $20.61 on 6.68 million shares after an influential analyst forecast higher prices early next year following recent price hikes by several U.S. producers. So fr this year, AKS is up over 120%.