Apple-FBI fight caused a 20% spike in this firm’s shares

Shares in Japan's Sun Corporation spiked over 20 percent on Thursday after reports that one of its subsidiaries, Israeli firm Cellebrite, is helping the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Toyko-listed Sun Corp closed up 20.13 percent at 895 yen, which analysts have attributed to the news. Cellebrite makes forensic software that allows "comprehensive mobile data extraction and decoding tools", according to the firm's website.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Cellebrite was helping the FBI unlock the iPhone belonging to San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, citing the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. If successful, the FBI could bypass Apple and avoid an intense legal battle.

In February, a U.S. judge ordered Apple to help the FBI access break into the iPhone 5C used by Farook. At the time, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the demands were "chilling" and the firm refused to create a "backdoor" into its software.

A hearing between the two parties was scheduled for Tuesday but postponed by a federal judge after the DOJ said it had found a third party to hack into the phone. The reports suggest that Cellebrite is that third party.

Neither Sun Corp nor Cellebrite responded to CNBC requests for comment.