Why the Afterpay (ASX:APT) share price is in the green today

After three consecutive down days this week, Afterpay is finally green on Thursday.

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The Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price is finally catching a break on Thursday, bouncing 3.49% higher to $102.46.

woman in jewellery shop paying through paypal

Image source: Getty Images

Two weeks on from the Apple announcement

It's been a little over two weeks since the headlines that Apple was developing its own BNPL service.

However, the selling pressure continues to linger, with the Afterpay share price tumbling 3.60% to $99 on Wednesday.

The Wednesday decline was off the back of above average trading volume, with almost 1.5 million shares changing hands compared to Afterpay's 10-day average of approximately 1.05 million shares.

What's driving the Afterpay share price on Thursday

Afterpay shares might be taking Wall Street's lead after the Nasdaq Composite posted a solid 0.70% gain overnight.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq managed to run higher despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 edging 0.36% and 0.02% lower respectively.

Encouraging, Afterpay's major US competitor, Affirm Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: AFRM) managed to post a 2.82% gain to US$61.18 as well.

The broader BNPL sector is also bouncing higher on Thursday, with the large cap players taking charge.

The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price is up 5.49% to $6.91.

While Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) is also posting a 2.39% gain to $8.15.

Smaller players including Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY) and Laybuy Holdings Ltd (ASX: LBY) are trading a respective 6.22% and 1.14% higher.

Despite a small victory today, the Afterpay share price is still down 4.05% this week and down 13.96% year-to-date.

Motley Fool contributor Kerry Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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