Apple halves LCD panel order?

A Japanese newspaper is suggesting Apple have reduced their iPhone 5 LCD panel orders from Sharp by half.

The tech giant is alleged to have made the cuts following slow sales of the product, despite shifting five million devices just three days after its initial launch in September.

Sankei Biz newspaper made the claim a week after Wall Street experts dismissed widespread rumours that Apple were planning to make significant cuts to iPhone 5 orders as simply ‘noise.’

Shares in the world’s most valuable company took a hit because of the speculation, but Wall Street hit back, claiming the rumours were ‘not news.'

“In our view, the potential order cuts are a direct result of manufacturing yields improving following the fast-and-furious product roll-outs of the iPhone 5 as well as new iPads and Macs," analyst Mark Moskowitz told Apple Insider last week.

Yet in another twist, Reuters reported that Sharp has slowed production of the 9.7 inch panels used for full-sized iPads.

While speculation and rumours offer no concrete indication into a company's success, failure or direction, recent reports mean the technology world will be eagerly anticipating Apple's Q1 2013 report on January 23.