* FTSE 100 up 0.4 percent
* Miners rise as metal prices reach record highs
* Results from Autonomy, ARM foster optimism
* BP slips as Q4 profit lags forecast
By Simon Falush
LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - A gain in commodity and bank stocks pushed Britain's top shares higher early on Tuesday as investors' focus shifted away from political turmoil in Egypt to a more upbeat outlook for the economy and companies.
By 0858 GMT the FTSE 100 was 22.97 points, or 0.4 percent, higher at 5,885.91 after falling 0.3 percent on Monday as worries over the impact of the political unrest in Egypt hti investor risk appetite.
Strong domestic corporate data helped equity investors recover optimism.
Autonomy added 3.1 percent after the search software posted fourth-quarter sales slightly ahead of forecasts.
Chip designer ARM Holdings added 2.8 percent after it beat expectations with a 47 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit.
"We are starting to focus on the realities of life, not speculating on what might happen in North Africa," said David Buik, senior partner at BGC Partners. "Dividends are being paid and companies are producing good results on the whole. People are starting to see that there is life after Egypt."
Data from the United States also helped restore investor conviction that economic recovery was on track.
Shares on Wall Street and in Asia rose on data showing U.S. factory activity in the Midwest hit a 22-1/2 year high in January as orders surged and employment prospects brightened.
MINER LIFT
Miners provided the bulk of the uplift for the index as gold bounced higher and copper and tin hit record highs. Kazakhmys added 3.7 percent and BHP Billiton gained 2.1 percent.
Energy stocks were also mostly higher as Brent crude pushed beyond $100, lifted by the turmoil in Egypt.
BP bucked the trend, down 1.7 percent and a significant drag on the indez as a whole, as its fourth-quarter underlying profit lagged forecasts to overshadow an expected return to paying dividends.
Also fostering the sense the global economy was in decent health, HSBC's China Purchasing Managers Index reported a rise in January showing solid growth in the country's vast manufacturing sector. ID:nBGNVCE79C
In Britain, Bank of England consumer credit and mortgage lending numbers for December will both be released at 0930 GMT.
Across the Atlantic, January's U.S. ISM manufacturing report and December construction spending data will be released at 1500 GMT.
Technical analysis of the FTSE 100 index was positive for the short-term.
"Although a broad-based top has been formed along with a sentiment shift to the sell side, the FTSE may have to mount one more attempt at a new high in order for the shorts to reapply their pressure," said Enis Mehmet, analyst at Autochartist.
"This scenario supports the start of a strong short-covering rally into 5,952.97 to 5,985.42 before fresh selling pressure drives the index lower." (Editing by Dan Lalor)