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• UPDATE 1-TNK-BP pulls Russia's Jan oil output down

  MOSCOW, Feb 2- Lower output from TNK-BP's mature fields led to an overall decrease in Russia's crude oil production, the world's largest, which edged down 0.1 percent in January, Energy Ministry data showed on Saturday.

• Gasoline Prices $4/Gallon By Valentine's Day? 

  

  Stocks, oil and gasoline prices rose to new milestones to close out the week. The Dow hit the 14,000 for the first time since 2007, Brent crude futures are at a 4-month high, and gas prices at the pump on average are at the highest price on record for this time of year. CNBC's Sharon Epperson looks ahead to how far gas prices could climb over the next few weeks.

• RPT-COLUMN-Saudi Arabia must shoulder blame for high oil prices: Kemp

  LONDON, Feb 1- Spot Brent prices are at their highest level since October and almost $16 above Saudi Arabia's theoretical target of around $100 per barrel. "Current high oil prices are a major challenge... for the global economic recovery," the International Energy Agency's chief economist Fatih Birol warned on Thursday.

• Iran Oil Exports to Asia Fell by a Quarter in 2012

  

  Iran's crude exports to its biggest customer, Asia, fell by a quarter in 2012 and shipments this year are expected to drop by at least 12 percent under U.S. sanctions pressure, but ample alternative supplies will keep refiners flush with oil.

• Asia to deepen Iran oil import cuts in 2013 as sanctions bite

  SINGAPORE/ TOKYO, Feb 1- Iran's crude exports to its biggest customer, Asia, fell by a quarter in 2012 and shipments this year are expected to drop by at least 12 percent under U.S. sanctions pressure, but ample alternative supplies will keep refiners flush with oil. From Asia, Iran lost $14 billion worth of oil exports for the year, according to Reuters calculations.

• OPEC oil output falls in Jan, lowest in a year-survey

  LONDON, Jan 31- OPEC crude oil output has fallen in January to its lowest in more than a year as Iranian exports dipped from December's unexpectedly high rate and top exporter Saudi Arabia cut output further, a Reuters survey found on Thursday.

• WRAPUP 1-Cheap crude a boon for inland, Gulf Coast refiners;E.Coast struggles

  Jan 30- The uneven impact of the shale oil boom on the U.S. refining industry was brought into stark relief this week as Midwest and Gulf Coast refiners with easy access to cheap domestic crude posted strong earnings, while weak margins spelled the death of another East Coast plant.

• UPDATE 7-Oil hits three-month high on economic optimism

  LONDON, Jan 30- Brent crude oil hit a three-month high on Wednesday, reaching $115 a barrel after better-than-forecast European data spurred optimism over the global economy, despite disappointing U.S. economic growth figures. Brent crude oil futures were 35 cents higher at $114.71 a barrel by 1623 GMT after hitting $115.24, their highest since Oct. 16, 2012.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks weighed by disappointing U.S. GDP data

  NEW YORK, Jan 30- An unexpected contraction in the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter sent stocks in Europe and the United States lower on Wednesday but helped keep the euro close to a 14- month high on expectations the U.S. central bank will continue its easy monetary policy.

• REFILE-UPDATE 6-Oil hits three-month high on economy optimism

  LONDON, Jan 30- Brent crude oil reached its highest level in three and a half months on Wednesday, passing $115 a barrel after better-than-forecast European data spurred optimism for the global economy. Brent crude oil futures were 20 cents higher at $114.56 a barrel by 1425 GMT after hitting $115.24, their highest since Oct. 16, 2012.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Disappointing U.S. data hits shares, helps euro

  LONDON, Jan 30- A surprise contraction in the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter hit shares on Wednesday and also helped keep the euro close to a 14- month high. There had been optimism earlier in the day after several encouraging reports on the European economy that saw the euro break above $1.35 for the first time since December 2011. "

• ANALYSIS-Arab Spring diverts part of Gulf petrodollar flows

  DUBAI, Jan 30- At an economic summit of Arab leaders in Riyadh last week, Saudi Arabia's crown prince called for a minimum 50 percent increase in the capital of a fund that lends money for development projects around the region.

• Saudi's Kingdom Holding in Islamic financing push

  DUBAI, Jan 30- Kingdom Holding Co, the international investment firm of Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has formed a sharia board of prominent scholars in order to raise more of its funding through Islamic finance. Elgari serves on several sharia boards including the Islamic arms of HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank.

• UPDATE 4-Oil hits three-month high on economy optimism

  LONDON, Jan 30- Brent crude oil reached its highest in three and a half months on Wednesday at close to $115 a barrel after better-than-forecast European and U.S. data spurred optimism in the global economy. Brent crude oil futures were 25 cents higher at $114.61 a barrel by 1016 GMT after hitting $114.73, their highest since Oct. 16, 2012.

• UPDATE 3-Oil holds near three-month high on U.S. economy optimism

  LONDON, Jan 30- Brent crude oil fell slightly on Wednesday but held close to a three-month high above $114 a barrel, underpinned by optimism about the U.S. economy after data showed a recovery was gaining ground. Brent cruse oil futures were 20 cents lower at $114.16 a barrel by 0903 GMT on nerves ahead of a U.S.

• UPDATE 3-Valero Q4 profit boosted by cheaper domestic oil

  *Earnings of $1.88 per share beat Wall Street view of $1.18. In November, the International Energy Agency forecast that U.S. oil output, aided by surging volumes from shale and other onshore rock formations, could top production from Saudi Arabia and Russia by 2017..

• Governments fall short in fighting defence corruption-survey

  BRUSSELS, Jan 29- More than two-thirds of countries, including many of the world's largest arms traders, have inadequate safeguards to prevent corruption in their defence sectors, a survey by an anti-corruption watchdog said on Tuesday.

• POLL-U.S. crude oil to close gap on Brent in 2013

  Jan 28- U.S. light crude oil futures are likely to outperform Brent this year, a Reuters poll of analysts shows, as increasing global supplies and economic uncertainty weigh on the North Sea benchmark. Reuters' monthly survey of 30 analysts forecasts Brent crude oil will average $109.70 per barrel in 2013, down from $111.70 last year.

• BlackRock to Buy $80 Million Twitter Stake

  

  BlackRock has taken an $80 million stake in Twitter, a person with knowledge of the deal said. BlackRock will buy shares directly from early Twitter employees seeking to liquidate their stock holdings and options.

• BlackRock to buy $80 million Twitter stake: source

  SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 25- BlackRock, the world's largest asset management company, has taken an $80 million stake in Twitter Inc, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday. BlackRock will buy shares directly from early Twitter employees seeking to liquidate their stock holdings and options.