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• European shares hold near multi-year highs

  LONDON, Feb 4- European shares were flat to slightly higher early on Monday after a firm close on Wall Street in the previous session, although short-term gains looked stretched as major indexes hovered near multi-year highs.

• Air India flew Dreamliners after grounding order-official

  NEW DELHI, Feb 4- Air India flew some of its Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner aircraft even after U.S. regulators grounded the global fleet last month due to undiagnosed battery problems. Dreamliners operated by India's national carrier were flown to Mumbai for maintenance reasons, Arun Mishra, the head of India's civil aviation regulator, said on Monday.

• Germany Balks at Bailing Out Rich Russians

  

  When German officials said they would save the euro zone at all costs, the prospect of bailing out Russian oligarchs was not what they had in mind, the New York Times reports.

• This Week, Watch What Central Bankers Say, Not Do

  

  Central banking is in a state of flux as policymakers from Tokyo to Washington ditch prevailing orthodoxies to try to grab a bigger share of a slow-growing global economic pie.

• Berlusconi Offers Big Tax Cuts in 'Last Great Battle'

  

  Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced his "last great electoral and political battle" on Sunday.

• Centrica set to scrap plans to build new UK nuclear plants- FT

  Feb 3- Centrica Plc, owner of British Gas, is set to scrap plans to build nuclear power stations in Britain, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing one person familiar with the company's plans.

• UPDATE 2-Berlusconi offers big tax cuts in "last great battle"

  ROME, Feb 3- Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced his "last great electoral and political battle" on Sunday with a sweeping promise to cut taxes and the cost of government if his center-right wins elections this month.

• UPDATE 1-Dutch want management of rescued bank held accountable

  AMSTERDAM, Feb 3- The Dutch finance minister said on Sunday he would look at whether those responsible for the mismanagement of SNS Reaal can be held accountable following last week's 10 billion euro rescue of the country's No. 4 bank.

• GLOBAL ECONOMY-Watch what central bankers say, not what they do

  LONDON, Feb 3- Central banking is in a state of flux as policymakers from Tokyo to Washington ditch prevailing orthodoxies to try to grab a bigger share of a slow-growing global economic pie.

• Dutch FinMin wants management of rescued bank held accountable

  AMSTERDAM, Feb 3- The Dutch finance minister said on Sunday he will look at whether those responsible for the mismanagement of SNS Reaal can be held accountable following last week's 10 billion euro rescue of the country's No. 4 bank.

• Spain's PM Mariano Rajoy Denies Corruption Charges

  

  The Spanish PM has strongly denied claims that he and other members of the governing party received secret payments. "I have never received or distributed 'black money', it's false," he said, stressing that he would not resign.

• France On Track for Growth Target: Minister

  

  French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici on Sunday said the government believed it could reach its 2013 economic growth target of 0.8 percent.

• Hedge Funds Up Bets Against Italy's Monte Paschi

  London hedge funds Odey Asset Management and Egerton Capital are among those upping their bets against Monte dei Paschi di Siena in recent days, after revelations the troubled Italian bank faces heavy losses.

• Hedge funds up bets against Italy's Monte Paschi

  LONDON, Feb 3- Big-name London hedge funds Odey Asset Management and Egerton Capital are among those upping their bets against Monte dei Paschi di Siena in recent days, after revelations the troubled Italian bank faces heavy losses.

• New Measures to Lift Veil on Banks' Capital Ratios

  The game may soon be up for banks that have made themselves look healthier by understating how risky their businesses are, which should help pension funds, savers and companies to decide which institutions to invest in.

• New measures to lift veil on banks' capital ratios

  *Initiative promises greater transparency on capital ratios. LONDON, Feb 3- The game may soon be up for banks that have made themselves look healthier by understating how risky their businesses are, which should help pension funds, savers and companies to decide which institutions to invest in.

• 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.

• ANA in Talks With Boeing to Speed Up 777 Jet Deliveries

  

  Japan's All Nippon Airways is in talks with U.S. aircraft maker Boeing to speed up the delivery of three 777 jetliners as its fleet of 787 Dreamliner airplanes remains grounded with undiagnosed battery problems, the Nikkei newspaper said on Sunday.

• ANA in talks with Boeing to speed up 777 jet deliveries-Nikkei

  TOKYO, Feb 3- Japan's All Nippon Airways is in talks with U.S. aircraft maker Boeing Co to speed up the delivery of three 777 jetliners as its fleet of 787 Dreamliner airplanes remains grounded with undiagnosed battery problems, the Nikkei newspaper said on Sunday.

• Brazil defense says wants to buy Russian antiaircraft systems

  SAO PAULO, Feb 2- Brazil's Defense Ministry said it will recommend the government buy anti-aircraft defense systems from Russia pending advanced talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev this month.