The swift upturn in British factory activity eased slightly in January but orders from home and abroad flooded in at a faster rate, a survey showed on Monday, boding well for Britain's economy at the start of the year. Markit's UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a survey of more than 600 industrial companies, slipped to 56.7 in January from December's downwardly revised 57.2, slightly short of analysts' expectations for 57.0. Keen for Britain's economic recovery to reduce its reliance on consumer spending, policymakers have taken heart from rising factory output in recent months. (full story)