U.S. firms lead EU lobbying league

By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. companies, including tech rivals Microsoft and Google, were among leading spenders on corporate lobbying in Brussels last year, a Reuters review of new data showed (table below). Companies had until Thursday to update public entries in the European Union's newly revamped Transparency Register following a tightening of rules in January that obliges firms to register if they want to meet EU commissioners and senior staff. Oil majors Exxon Mobil