InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[thelurker]

BlackBerry Inc. among the sector leaders flexing its muscles after an industry analyst said sales of some of its newest smartphones may be turning out better than expected.

BlackBerry BBRY +6.34% shares ended with a gain of more than 6%, to close at $14.41. Before the market opened, Société Générale analyst Andy Perkins raised his rating on the smartphone maker’s stock to buy from sell. In a research note, Perkins said expectations for BlackBerry’s fiscal first-quarter results are “diverse” ahead of the report, scheduled for June 28.

However, Perkins said that “recent channel checks suggest that [BlackBerry’s] new models are selling well,” and he estimates the company will report more than 4 million sales of its Z10 handset.