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• GLOBAL ECONOMY-Asia factory growth cools on weak global demand Friday, 1 Mar 2013 | 1:03 AM ET

  BEIJING/ SEOUL, March 1- Growth in Asia's manufacturing sector cooled in February as the pace of economic recovery slackened, according to factory surveys and trade data on Friday that pointed to continuing weakness in the strength of global demand.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares capped by China PMI slip, US budget worry Friday, 1 Mar 2013 | 12:37 AM ET

  *China manufacturing data lacklustre, but no recession seen. TOKYO, March 1- Asian shares were capped on Friday, with sentiment dented by lacklustre manufacturing data from China and worries over the economic fallout from Italy's political confusion as well as possible U.S. spending cuts.

• FOREX-Euro firms vs dollar, yen but gains seen limited Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 10:54 PM ET

  *Italy election aftermath, U.S. spending cuts weigh on sentiment. The single currency's upside remained capped as political uncertainty in Italy and impending U.S. government spending cuts sapped some investors' appetite for risk.

• GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares ease on economy worries, China data eyed Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 7:35 PM ET

  TOKYO, March 1- Asian shares edged down on Friday, with sentiment burdened by worries over the economic fallout from Italy's political stalemate, the likelihood of U.S. " sequestration "spending cuts, and caution ahead of China's manufacturing data.

• TABLE-South Korea Feb exports fall 8.6 pct yr/yr Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 7:06 PM ET

  SEOUL, March 1- Following are South Korea's preliminary export and import figures for February, released by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy on Friday:.

• FOREX-Euro pressured as risk sentiment fades, China data eyed Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 6:07 PM ET

  *Italy election, U.S. spending cuts weigh on sentiment. SYDNEY, March 1- The euro remained under pressure on Friday, a day after notching its biggest monthly fall against the dollar in nine months, with risk appetite hurt by political uncertainty in Italy and U.S. government spending cuts that are due to kick in.

• COLUMN- The age of austerity is ending Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 3:26 PM ET

  But in Italy, Britain and the rest of Europe, this week's events should help convince politicians and voters that efforts to reduce government borrowing, whether through public spending cuts or through tax hikes, are both politically suicidal and economically counterproductive. In Italy, and therefore the entire euro zone, this shift is now almost certain.

• UPDATE 1-IMF set to cut growth forecasts if U.S. spending is cut Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 11:48 AM ET

  WASHINGTON, Feb 28- The International Monetary Fund said Thursday it will likely cut its growth forecasts for the United States and the global economy if automatic U.S. spending cuts take effect on Friday, and warned that the U.S.' s biggest trading partners would be hardest hit.

• SCENARIOS-Brazil struggles to fight inflation, spur economy Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 9:42 AM ET

  These are the ingredients for what should be an eye-popping rebound, but Brazil's economy continues to limp along.

• UPDATE 5-Eye on election, India surprises with spending surge Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 | 8:07 AM ET

  NEW DELHI, Feb 28- India unveiled a surge in government spending on Thursday, despite expectations of an austerity budget to shore up its finances, imposing new taxes on the rich and large companies to fund a dash for growth ahead of an election due by next year.

• COMMODITIES-Gold snaps 2-day rally; oil extends losses Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 5:36 PM ET

  *Gold falls 1 pct on U.S. stimulus, sequester worries. NEW YORK, Feb 27- Gold snapped a two-day rally on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve chairman gave no hints of new U.S. economic stimulus and investors worried that deep government spending cuts were in store for the world's No. 1 economy, and oil fell too on concerns about weakening demand.

• UPDATE 1-Rousseff says Brazil must shape up and compete Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 1:40 PM ET

  BRASILIA, Feb 27- President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday that Brazil must cut its high business costs to become more competitive and vowed to keep inflation in check as the world's sixth-largest economy shifts into higher gear this year.

• UPDATE 3-S.Africa economy hit by weak exports, lower mine revenue Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 1:39 PM ET

  CAPE TOWN, Feb 27- Subdued European demand for its exports forced South Africa to cut its 2013 economic growth forecast on Wednesday, while missed revenue targets looked to be creating a wider budget deficit than first thought.

• UPDATE 2-South Africa economy hit by weak European exports and less revenue from mines Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 11:15 AM ET

  CAPE TOWN, Feb 27- Subdued European demand for its exports forced South Africa to cut its 2013 economic growth forecast on Wednesday, while missed revenue targets looked to be creating a wider budget deficit than first thought.

• METALS-Copper edges up after Fed defends easing, euro zone data Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 6:54 AM ET

  LONDON, Feb 27- Copper edged up on Wednesday for a second day after confidence climbed in the euro zone and the U.S. Federal Reserve reassured investors about monetary stimulus, outweighing concerns about Italy's political deadlock.

• UPDATE 2-India likely to hit fiscal deficit target despite low revenue-govt Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 4:10 AM ET

  NEW DELHI, Feb 27- India is likely to hit a fiscal deficit target of 5.3 percent of GDP this year despite a significant shortfall in revenue, a government report said on Wednesday, a day before the budget, but it conceded economic growth would be a sluggish 5 percent.

• Japan's Abe aims to polish reform credentials with TPP trade decision Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013 | 2:05 AM ET

  TOKYO, Feb 27- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears poised to raise the curtain on Act Three of his "Abenomics" drama with a decision to join talks on a U.S.-led free trade pact, seen by some as a test of his appetite for vital economic reform.

• In China, rubber-for-loans bet at risk from economy, car sales Tuesday, 26 Feb 2013 | 4:00 PM ET

  *China may see slower growth in rubber imports this year. The financing deals, which have pushed rubber stocks in China to at least 3- year highs, are based on the expectation that China's economy will grow faster this year and traders who are in such deals would benefit from a rise in prices of rubber or other assets they invest in using the loans.

• FOREX-Euro drops as Italian vote spurs fears about its economy Monday, 25 Feb 2013 | 1:05 PM ET

  NEW YORK, Feb 25- The euro slumped against the dollar and Japanese yen on Monday after exit polls from an election in Italy ignited fears about government instability and concerns about the country's economic trajectory.

• Euro zone at odds over "bail-in" of Cypriot depositors Monday, 25 Feb 2013 | 9:21 AM ET

  *Germany, Finland, others want banks to share cost of bailout. BRUSSELS/ NICOSIA, Feb 25- European policymakers are split over how to handle a bailout of Cyprus, with Germany and some other countries pushing for bank depositors to bear part of the cost and many other member states worried such a move will cause a bank run.