WASHINGTON - APPLE Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs has an excellent prognosis following a liver transplant, the Memphis, Tennessee, hospital that performed the surgery said on Tuesday.

Mr Jobs, 54, received the transplant because he was 'the sickest patient on the waiting list at the time a donor organ became available', the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute said in a statement on its website. 'Mr Jobs is now recovering well and has an excellent prognosis.'

Mr Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January, was at the company's Cupertino, California, headquarters on Monday, underscoring speculation the pancreatic cancer survivor may have returned to work.

The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Mr Jobs' liver transplant was performed two months ago.

Mr Jobs was cited in an Apple press release on Monday for the first time in months, triggering talk that the man considered the visionary behind Apple's innovation machine had returned from his leave of absence.

'This is the first time we've heard from Steve Jobs since he reported he was taking medical leave,' said Oppenheimer & Co analyst Yair Reiner. 'It's a sign Apple has its CEO back.' -- REUTERS