UNITED STATES

The dollar neared a 15-year low against the yen on Wednesday, staying under pressure across the board as weak U.S. data and talk of further policy easing from the Federal Reserve weighed on Treasury yields.

Gold rose above $1,190 an ounce in Europe on Wednesday, benefiting from softer appetite for assets such as stocks and hopes for a rise in Asian demand, though an ongoing dearth of safe-haven demand capped gains. Spot gold rose to a high of $1,197.05 an ounce, its strongest since July 23, and was bid at $1,194.95 an ounce at 5:37 a.m. ET versus $1,185.35 late in New York on Tuesday. U.S. gold futures for December delivery rose $9.60 to $1,197.10.

More of Europe's top banks beat earnings forecasts on Wednesday, as bad debts shrank more than expected in the first half, outweighing a slowdown in investment banking, which was hit by sovereign debt fears.

The yen rose toward a 15-year high against the dollar on Wednesday, sending benchmark government bond yields below 1 percent and adding pressure on Japanese policymakers to keep the fragile economic recovery on course.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Wednesday, after disappointing housing and consumer spending data released a day earlier prompted some worries over the pace of economic recovery.

Toyota Motor Corp's <7203.T> biggest quarterly profit in two years and a hike in its annual forecasts failed to allay concerns about the strength in the yen, weak margins and a faltering U.S. market.

French bank Societe Generale warned the economic recovery was still fragile, with moderate growth prospects in Europe, after it beat forecasts with an almost fourfold leap in second-quarter net profit.

French bank Societe Generale warned the economic recovery was still fragile, with moderate growth prospects in Europe, after it beat forecasts with an almost fourfold leap in second-quarter net profit.

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> reported its best operating profit in two years on Wednesday, beating market estimates, and lifted its cautious forecasts despite a sluggish U.S. recovery and a stronger yen.

FGIC Corp filed for bankruptcy protection late on Tuesday, saying it was not paid dividends by its troubled bond insurance unit Financial Guaranty Insurance Company since the onset of the financial crisis more than two years ago, court documents showed.

Gold extended gains and rose to its strongest in a week on Wednesday as investors shifted out of equities after poor U.S. data sparked concerns about the health of the global economy.

The dollar hit an eight-month trough against the yen on Wednesday, crawling towards its lowest level since 1995, as weak U.S. data and talk of the Federal Reserve embarking on further policy easing pushed down Treasury yields.

Mobile phone group Motorola is teaming up with Verizon Wireless to develop a digital tablet device that would rival Apple's iPad, the Financial Times said on Wednesday.

The Australian Dollar has opened above USD0.9100 after a night in which ambiguity and uncertainty presented themselves to the markets again.

Auto sales rose 5 percent in July in an uneven recovery that left Toyota Motor Co <7203.T> and Honda Motor Co <7267.T> sputtering with declines from strong results a year ago.

Consumer goods makers like Procter & Gamble Co and Clorox Co have bet on new products to spur growth, but heavy promotional expenses will keep that growth moderate in the next year.

The BlackBerry -- renown for the security of its messaging -- doesn't offer 100 percent protection from eavesdropping. At least not in the United States.

Consumer spending and incomes were flat in June while home purchase contracts tumbled to a record low, implying an anemic economic recovery for the remainder of this year.

Pfizer Inc posted higher-than-expected quarterly results and stood by its longer-term profit view, allaying investor concern over looming generic drug competition and lifting its shares almost 6 percent.

(Corrects fourth paragraph to show Ford's sales gain was lower after including, not excluding, Volvo)

General Motors Co posted a 5 percent gain in July U.S. sales on Tuesday which it said underscored evidence of progress in the year since its emergence from a U.S. government-funded bankruptcy.