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• F.T.C. Suggests New Policy Guidelines for Mobile Apps

  

  In a strong move to protect the privacy of Americans as they use the Internet on their smartphones and tablets, the FTC said the mobile industry should include a do-not-track feature in software and apps and take other steps to safeguard personal information.

• Declining Car Sales Sink European Upturn Hopes

  

  Car sales extended their declines in France, Spain and Italy last month, data showed on Friday, leaving little hope of a European auto market rebound anytime soon.

• UPDATE 4-Clearwire says Dish bid still under consideration

  NEW YORK, Feb 1- Clearwire Corp said on Friday that it was still evaluating a takeover bid from satellite television provider Dish Network Corp even though it continues to recommend the Sprint Nextel Corp offer it had accepted in December.

• Cowen agrees to buy investment bank Dahlman Rose

  NEW YORK-- Investment firm Cowen Group Inc. said Friday it is buying Dahlman Rose& Co., a privately held investment bank. Cowen is buying Dahlman Rose with stock but the two firms did not disclose further financial details. Cowen Group shares rose 3 cents to $2.69 Friday and were unchanged in aftermarket trading.

• American Axle to invest more than $100M in plant

  DETROIT-- American Axle& Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said Friday that it will spend more than $100 million on a Michigan manufacturing plant to add new production lines, increase shipping capacity and other items. Detroit- based American Axle makes axles, transmission parts and other parts for the automotive industry.

• Wet Seal cuts jobs and costs, COO resigns

  FOOTHILLS RANCH, Calif.-- The Wet Seal Inc. said Friday and its chief operating officer is stepping down as the struggling retailer implements a broad restructuring program. Wet Seal also authorized a $25 million stock buyback program, cut 35 jobs and will close two money-losing Arden B stores at the end of its 2012 fiscal year.

• UPDATE 3-Modelo deal parties working on DOJ concerns -source

  NEW YORK/ WASHINGTON- Feb 1- Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, Grupo Modelo and Constellation Brands Inc are discussing ways to address U.S. regulators' antitrust concerns over their mega-merger and expect to soon open settlement talks to avoid a trial, a source close to one of the companies said on Friday.

• Bank of America Plagued by Online, Mobile Outages

  BAC experienced widespread outages Friday on its website and mobile banking apps due to an internal technical malfunction, according to a person familiar with the situation.

• Hedge Funds Riding the Stock Rally 

  

  Markets continue to move higher, with hedge funds and the world's biggest money managers riding the rally, reports CNBC's Kate Kelly.

• How to Fix the Debt Problem 

  

  Insight on America's debt crisis, with Erskine Bowles, Campaign to Fix the Debt; Alan Simpson, Campaign to Fix the Debt; and CNBC's John Harwood.

• UPDATE 1-Dell nears buyout that could top $24 bln-sources

  NEW YORK, Feb 1- Dell Inc is edging closer to an agreement to sell itself to a buyout consortium led by Michael Dell, its founder and chief executive, and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners in a deal that could top $24 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

• Fagen: Is Washington Enemy #1 for Business?

  

  The number one challenge to the economy according to industry executives is Washington regulation, writes this political insider.

• U.S. panel backs exchange to list smaller companies

  WASHINGTON, Feb 1- A panel of small business experts on Friday urged U.S. securities regulators to encourage the creation of a new exchange to list smaller companies to make it easier for them to enter the public market. The recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies to the Securities and Exchange Commission is not binding.

• WRAPUP 5-U.S. jobs, factory data point to steady economic growth

  *Average hourly earnings rise four cents. WASHINGTON, Feb 1- U.S. employment grew modestly in January and factory activity touched a nine-month high, supporting views the economy's mild recovery remained on track.

• Tax Reform Will Be a 'Death Struggle': Alan Simpson

  

  Congress has done the easy part of deficit and debt reduction, but the more difficult decisions on controlling health care costs, reforming the tax code and fixing entitlements still lie ahead, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles told the TD Ameritrade conference on Friday.

• Biofuel stocks rise after EPA boosts mandate

  The EPA wanted 8.7 million gallons in 2012, but actual production was near zero. Separately, renewable-fuel producer Amyris Inc. said Friday that its plant in Brazil made its first commercial shipment of farnesene, which is used in specialty chemicals and fuels. In afternoon trading shares of Amyris Inc. rose 23 cents, or 7.5 percent, to $3.27.

• METALS-Copper up on growth optimism, U.S. economy perks up

  *China factory PMI shows mild rebound. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange closed at $8,290 a tonne, up from a close of $8,165 on Thursday when it touched a 3-1/ 2 month intraday high at $8,291.25 a tonne.

• UPDATE 1-Journalist has no right to AIG documents - US court

  WASHINGTON, Feb 1- A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that a journalist does not have a legal right to see consultant reports prepared for American International Group Inc as part of an agreement between the company and securities regulators.

• TREASURIES-Prices seesaw after US jobless and manufacturing data

  NEW YORK, Feb 1- Prices for U.S. The numbers were "quite encouraging for both output and employment prospects ahead," said Andrew Wilkinson, chief economic strategist with Miller Tabak& Co. LLC.

• INTERVIEW-Entergy's retiring CEO not retiring on climate change

  HOUSTON, Feb 1- As J. Wayne Leonard retires from the ranks of U.S. electric utility executives, the former chairman of New Orleans- based Entergy Corp said he will continue to push the industry and the nation to combat climate change.