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• ANALYSIS-US companies offset weak sales growth with fat margins Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 7:59 AM ET

  *Honeywell, McDonald's profit despite shaky sales. McDonald's Corp was able to beat Wall Street's profit forecasts by keeping its locations open on Christmas and rolling out the cult favorite McRib sandwich in December.

• UPDATE 1-Egypt pounds dips, weekend violence prompts caution Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 6:48 AM ET

  CAIRO, Jan 27- Egypt's pound weakened against the dollar on Sunday, as street violence and deaths added to the political crisis, extending a steady decline at the central bank's foreign exchange auctions since their launch last month.

• Support for Japan's Abe govt rises to two-thirds-poll Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 5:50 AM ET

  TOKYO, Jan 27- Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government rose by 4.7 percentage points to two-thirds of voters in the month since his Liberal Democratic Party returned to power, a poll by the Kyodo news agency showed on Sunday.

• France investigates Diane-35 acne drug after deaths Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 5:14 AM ET

  PARIS, Jan 27- France's health regulator has opened an inquiry into acne drug Diane-35, which is also used as a contraceptive, after four deaths linked to the drug in the past 25 years.

• Feinstein has assurance US assault weapon ban will get a vote Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 12:53 AM ET

  *Senate panel to hold gun control hearing Wednesday. WASHINGTON, Jan 27- The senator leading the charge to revive a U.S. assault weapons ban conceded on Sunday, just days before hearings on gun control open, that winning Senate passage will be tough but said she has been assured she will have the chance to bring it up for a vote.

• Wall St Week Ahead: Bears sleep as U.S. stocks near record highs Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 12:27 AM ET

  NEW YORK, Jan 27- U.S. stocks have been on a tear in January, moving major indexes within striking distance of all-time highs. The Standard& Poor's 500 Index is up 5.4 percent this year and above 1,500- climbing to the spot where Wall Street strategists expected it to be by mid-year.

• Wall Street executives fret about talent drain Sunday, 27 Jan 2013 | 12:15 AM ET

  DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 27- As the titans of Wall Street banks gathered to network, gossip and consider the future of their beleaguered industry in Davos over the past week, one common worry emerged: who is going to take over when we leave?

• Japan's Yen Policy Under Fire Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 11:05 PM ET

  

  Japan's economy minister rejected criticism on Saturday that his country's extraordinary fiscal and monetary stimulus program was aimed at weakening the yen and undermined central bank independence.

• INTERVIEW-EU, U.S. on verge of 'difficult' free-trade negotiations Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 8:43 PM ET

  SANTIAGO, Jan 26- The United States and the European Union are wrapping up final preparations for talks on a free-trade agreement that would encompass half the world's economic output, Europe's trade chief said on Saturday, while warning of "difficult negotiations."

• UPDATE 3-EU, Mercosur to unblock trade talks, hurdles remain Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 7:35 PM ET

  SANTIAGO, Jan 26- EU leaders won a promise from Argentina and Brazil on Saturday to revive stalled talks on a free-trade deal that would be a major prize for Europe as it emerges from crisis, but disputes over key issues mean a breakthrough appears distant.

• Mercosur to unblock talks, EU trade chief sees U.S. negotiations Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 5:50 PM ET

  SANTIAGO, Jan 26- The European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur will exchange offers on opening up their markets by the end of this year, the EU's trade chief said on Saturday as both sides try to unblock long-stalled free-trade negotiations.

• UPDATE 1-Russian $7 bln bill dampens Ukraine mood after gas deal Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 5:06 PM ET

  KIEV, Jan 26- Russia has slapped a $7 billion bill on Ukraine for imports of gas it says Kiev was committed to buy last year but never took, Ukrainian energy industry sources and state company Naftogaz said on Saturday.

• ECB's Asmussen warns against unilateral forex moves Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 3:30 PM ET

  FRANKFURT, Jan 26- European Central Bank Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen called for international cooperation to address the current debate about competitive currency devaluation, saying central banks are not the ones to solve structural problems.

• IADB lowers Latam 2013 growth to 3.5-4 pct, cites global risks Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 2:15 PM ET

  SANTIAGO, Jan 26- Latin America's economy should grow less than forecast this year, as the export-dependent region faces threats from stimulus measures in the developed world and an unresolved debt crisis in Europe, the Inter-American Development Bank said on Saturday.

• UPDATE 1-EasyJet chairman Mike Rake to step down in summer Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 1:45 PM ET

  *Rake has expanding role as Barclays deputy chairman. LONDON, Jan 26- EasyJet Chairman Mike Rake will step down this summer, the budget airline said on Saturday, ending a fight by its founder and largest investor to oust him because of his expanding role as deputy chairman of Barclays.

• UPDATE 1-Japan defends stimulus, yen policy under fire Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 11:33 AM ET

  *Japan economy minister says not trying to weaken yen. *South Korea central banker criticises Japan policy.

• EXCLUSIVE-ECB rejects Irish bid on promissory note-sources Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 10:05 AM ET

  Jan 26- The European Central Bank has rejected Ireland's preferred solution to a dispute over the cost of servicing money borrowed to rescue a failed bank, EU sources familiar with the talks said on Saturday.

• Siemens seeks growth in Latin America, to keep investment pace Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 9:46 AM ET

  SANTIAGO, Jan 26- Siemens wants to grow in Latin America and intends to maintain its investment pace in the dynamically-growing region, the CEO for South America, excluding Brazil, told Reuters on Saturday.

• Japan min-not trying to weaken yen, central bank Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 9:06 AM ET

  DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26- Japan's economy minister said on Saturday his country's extraordinary fiscal and monetary stimulus programme was not aimed at weakening the yen or undermining central bank independence.

• IMF urges mid-term plan for Japan debt reduction Saturday, 26 Jan 2013 | 8:20 AM ET

  DAVOS, Switzerland Jan 26- The head of the International Monetary Fund called on Saturday for Japan to put forward a medium-term plan to reduce its public debt after this week's bold monetary and fiscal stimulus measures. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde told the World Economic Forum in Davos: " Japan has made very important decisions.