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• U.S. shale gas revolution throws down the gauntlet to Europe

  MUNICH, Feb 3- The United States is enjoying an energy bonanza thanks to shale gas, making it a magnet for industry, reducing import dependence and challenging Europe as it battles to dig itself out of recession, energy officials say. As Europe continues to debate it, North America is reaping the advantages, "said Jorma Ollila, Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell.

• UPDATE 2-China services' slow uptick highlights mildness of recovery

  BEIJING, Feb 3- Growth in China's increasingly important services sector rose for the fourth straight month in January, though the slim increase added to evidence that the recovery in the world's second-largest economy remains a modest one.

• UPDATE 1-China services activity highlights modest recovery

  BEIJING, Feb 3- Growth in China's increasingly important services sector ticked up slightly in January, the fourth straight monthly rise, adding to evidence that the recovery in the world's second-largest economy is a modest one.

• Weak yen yet to reach corporate Japan's bottom line

  TOKYO, Feb 3- Currency hedging cost Japanese companies such as Honda Motor Co the chance to fully cash in on a weak yen last quarter, raising the risk that investor expectations could outrun earnings. "The rally is completely driven by hopes rather than facts," said Soichiro Monji, chief strategist at Daiwa SB Investments.

• Politics of pollution: China's oil giants take a choke-hold on power

  *Pressure on Communist Party chief Xi to check oil companies' power. BEIJING, Feb 3- The search for culprits behind the rancid haze enveloping China's capital has turned a spotlight on the country's two largest oil companies and their resistance to tougher fuel standards.

• Services trade deal could open U.S. to more foreign workers

  "It's inevitable that that's going to be on the table," said Jake Colvin, vice president at the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents major U.S. exporters such as Boeing Co, Microsoft Corp and Caterpillar Inc..

• Cotton rises for 5th week, longest rally since early 2011

  The most-active March contract on ICE Futures U.S. rose 0.03 cent, or 0.04 percent, to settle at 82.98 cents per lb, after hitting an intraday high of 83.45 cents.

• Symantec to NYT: Chinese Hack Not Our Fault

  

  Symantec begs to differ with The New York Times' suggestion that it might be partially to blame for a security lapse that missed most of the intrusions from China.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks gain on factory and U.S. jobs data; euro jumps, yen slumps

  NEW YORK, Feb 1- Major world stockmarkets rose to their highest levels in nearly two years on Friday helped by manufacturing and employment data indicating the global economic recovery is on track.

• Standex moves to profit in 4Q

  SALEM, N.H.-- Standex International Corp. posted a profit for its fiscal fourth quarter, despite mixed sales results around the globe. However, increasing demand for its automotive program mold texturizing work in Europe and China offset weakness in North America during the quarter.

• WRAPUP 1-Fed officials see brighter global economic outlook

  WASHINGTON/ NEW YORK, Feb 1- Two top Federal Reserve officials painted a picture of cautious optimism on Friday for the U.S. economy in 2013, helped by stronger global growth as the central bank aggressively prints money to curb the nation's lofty rate of unemployment. But New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley and St.

• European shares propped up by solid U.S. data

  LONDON, Feb 1- European shares inched up on Friday, as investors took advantage of the past two sessions' losses to snap up equities more cheaply, reassured by a run of solid data from China, Europe and the United States.

• Global manufacturing revives in January

  JPMorgan's Global Manufacturing PMI, produced with research and supply management organisations, rose to 51.5 in January from December's 50.1, above the 50- mark that divides growth from contraction for the second straight month.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks rise on U.S. jobs data; dollar lower

  *U.S. and European stocks get a lift, MSCI world index higher. The MSCI world equity index was up 0.4 percent, having strengthened earlier on factory activity surveys for January in China and in the euro zone, which increased optimism over the global growth outlook. "

• CORRECTED-GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks up on U.S. jobs data; U.S. dollar falls

  *U.S. and European stocks get a lift, MSCI world index higher. The MSCI world equity index was up 0.4 percent, having strengthened earlier on factory activity surveys for January in China and the euro zone, which increased optimism over the global growth outlook. "

• GLOBAL ECONOMY-US manufacturing surges, Chinese recovery more modest

  *China's official PMI eases to 50.4, HSBC reading at two-year high. NEW YORK/ LONDON, Feb 1- U.S. manufacturing growth quickened in January and hiring across the economy increased in late 2012, but Chinese factories only managed a slight rebound as the new year began, suggesting that world economic growth remains sluggish.

• Senator says hemp would help Kentucky economy

  The utilization of hemp to produce everything from clothing to paper is real and if there is a capacity to center a new domestic industry in Kentucky that will create jobs in these difficult economic times, that sounds like a good thing to me. "

• UPDATE 5-Oil rises above $116 on renewed Mideast tension

  LONDON, Feb 1- Brent crude oil rose above $116 on Friday to reach a four-month high after a suicide bombing attack on the U.S. embassy in Ankara increased the focus on tension across the region. Brent futures for March rose $1.18 to a high of $116.73 a barrel, its highest since mid-September, before easing back to around $116.25 by 1500 GMT.

• US manufacturing growth quickens in Jan-Markit

  NEW YORK, Feb 1- U.S. manufacturing grew in January at its fastest pace in nine months and looked likely to drive economic growth in the first three months of 2013, an industry survey showed on Friday.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Dollar extends losses, shares up on U.S. jobs data

  *Dollar dips against euro to $1.3658. LONDON, Feb 1- World shares gained and the dollar extended its falls against the euro on Friday after data showed U.S. payrolls grew modestly in January and that gains in the previous two months were bigger than initially reported.