UNITED KINGDOM

Fans stormed Apple Inc's flagship store in Japan and operator Softbank Corp's outlets as the company launched a slim new version of its wildly popular iPhone.

The Aussie opens today lower at 0.8700 against the Greenback as mixed signals on the US housing front overnight cast shadows over the US economy in the lead up to the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest announcements tonight.

Apple Inc has run out of white iPhone 4s on the eve of the launch of the hot-selling next-generation smartphone, the latest hiccup in the gadget's closely watched global roll-out.

The dollar was lower against the euro ahead of a decision on interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve, while sterling rose sharply as investors continued to view the UK budget positively.

Asian stocks slid on Wednesday and European markets were expected to follow suit as poor U.S. home sales added to fears about the global economic recovery and optimism over China's new flexible yuan policy faded.

Apple Inc's hot-selling next-generation iPhone sports chips from Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology and STMicroelectronics, according to an early teardown, or disassembly analysis by technology firm iFixit.

The euro held steady on Wednesday but remained vulnerable as a recent risk rally appeared to have run its course and on concerns about the euro zone banking system. A sharp fall in U.S. stocks .SPX the previous day and a subsequent drop in the Nikkei .N225 helped support the dollar and the yen, which are favoured when risk aversion spikes and doubts over the health of the global economy emerge.

British scientists who conducted the largest study yet into cell phone masts and childhood cancers say that living close to a mast does not increase the risk of a pregnant woman's baby developing cancer.

Apple Inc has sold 3 million iPads in less than three months, a faster-than-expected pace that boosted its stock days before the company's newest iPhone hits store shelves.

China is only three days into its new era of currency flexibility yet it has already succeeded in puncturing market hopes for a money-making surge in the yuan, leaving investors resigned to a glacial rise at best.

The Australian dollar lost ground overnight falling a cent to USD0.8700 in a volatile offshore trading session following weaker US housing data and concerns over Europe.

Barclays Plc chief executive said on Tuesday that he would not have recommended the purchase of Lehman Brothers' core U.S. brokerage business if the deal did not show a gain for Barclays, or at least an even exchange.

The Aussie broke past 0.8850 US early offshore last night after China's announcement saw commodities prices climb to a five week high.

Latin American currencies firmed on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected German economic data offset concerns that Europe's efforts to confront debt troubles may crimp global economic growth.

Germany, France and Britain announced plans on Tuesday to introduce a bank levy to help meet the costs of the financial crisis, without waiting for a G20 summit this week, underscoring a rift with key partners.

Benchmark bank-to-bank euro lending costs edged higher on Tuesday as demand for funds increased before the quarter end and the expiry of the European Central Bank's 442 billion euro one-year refinancing operation.

Britain's economy will grow more slowly than previously envisaged this year and next as a result of fiscal tightening but will subsequently pick up speed, finance minister George Osborne said on Tuesday.

Weaker commodity stocks and banks pushed Britain's top share index lower early on Tuesday, after gains in the previous session, as confidence prompted by China's decision to give its currency more flexibility faded.

Asian stocks and commodities retreated on Tuesday as wary investors took profits from a rally ignited by China's weekend decision to give its currency more flexibility.

Asian stocks retreated on Tuesday as investors booked profits a day after China's weekend decision to give its currency more flexibility triggered a risk rally.

The AUD has opened lower this morning currently trading around USD0.8765 as profit taking entered the market following the announcement from the Chinese central bank regarding the Chinese Yuan.