apple tim cook Apple CEO Tim Cook waits in the audience before appearing at a Senate homeland security and governmental affairs investigations subcommittee hearing.

Sterling tumbled almost a cent against the dollar, down 0.7pc to $1.5145, as traders said falling inflation raised the prospect of more stimulus when Mark Carney takes over as Bank of England Governor in July.

... Off. � Apple chief exec to be grilled by US politicians on tax � McCain: Apple tax gives new meaning to 'think different' � UK inflation falls further than expected to 2.4pc � G4S chief executive Nick Buckles steps down � Marks & Spencer profits fall after clothing ...

It's back to basics on the FTSE 100 this morning, with the biggest movers at both ends of a steady index tracking changes to their earnings guidance.

Sector movers: Burberry lifts personal goods sector after record results LONDON (SHARECAST) - Burberry was trading at 12-month highs on Tuesday after beating expectations with its 2012/13 results, lifting the personal goods sector to the top of the pile.

May.21 - Vodafone's posted the largest ever fall in its main revenue measure, forcing it to keep a dividend from Verizon, its healthy U.S.

Bank of Ireland has written to 1,200 borrowers threatened with an increase in their mortgage rate to advise them they will not face the change after all, following a review of customer complaints.

Scotland can "more than afford' to be a successful independent country, its first minister has said. Alex Salmond was speaking as he launched a paper outlining the nation's key economic strengths.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has accused mobile phone firm O2 of betraying hundreds of call centre workers in Glasgow and elsewhere in the UK.

Homeserve's (HSV) shares jumped 10 per cent on the back of these full-year figures after the domestic repairs insurer showed signs of recovering from the damage caused by a Financial Services Authority (now the Financial Conduct Authority) investigation ...