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Steve Jobs, the chief executive officer of Apple Computers, was wrongly reported dead by a financial news provider, it has emerged.

Bloomberg released information through its wire services to a number of news resources that stated the computer manufacturing boss had passed away.

The chief executive, who overcame pancreatic cancer in 2004, was also criticised in the piece, which described him as being surrounded by a "reality distortion field" and parking in disabled spaces to save walking far into work, prompting the Times to question the legal ramifications.

ComputerWeekly reported comments made by Bloomberg in relation to the incident, which said: "An incomplete story referencing Apple was inadvertently published by Bloomberg News at 4.27pm New York time today [August 27th].

"The item was never meant for publication and has been retracted."

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 as well as Pixar Animation Studios, the film company responsible for Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.

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