GLOBAL MARKETS-Global stocks edge higher, euro falls broadly

                                

                                
 * Global stocks edge higher on prospect for solid earnings
                                
 * Euro falls sharply on persistent Greece debt concerns
                                
 * Oil slips under $86, dollar tempers high China growth
 (Updates with close of U.S. markets)
                                
 By Herbert Lash
                                
 NEW YORK, April 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose for a sixth
straight day on Thursday on another round of results that beat
expectations but the euro fell broadly amid renewed uncertainty
over whether Greece will seek money from a bailout package.
                                
 A stronger U.S. dollar kept a lid on most commodity prices
while U.S. Treasuries rose as dour news in the labor market
overshadowed signs of improvement elsewhere in the economy. For
details see:[ID:nN15252276]
                                
 U.S. oil prices ended lower as the firmer dollar and mixed
U.S. economic data pulled crude back from earlier gains that
followed data showing an annual growth rate in China of 11.9
percent, the fastest pace since 2007. [ID:nN15562838]
                                
 An upbeat profit forecast from United Parcel Service
<UPS.N> lifted U.S. transportation shares, but concerns about a
rise in weekly jobless claims limited Wall Street's gains.
[ID:nN15203914]
                                
 New U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly soared last week to a
seasonally adjusted 484,000 due to applications delayed by the
Easter holiday. Markets had expected a dip to 440,000.
[ID:nN15325702]
                                
 "We continue to see better-than-expected numbers across a
variety of sectors, which shows economic improvement," said
Channing Smith, vice president of Capital Advisors, Tulsa,
Oklahoma. "But ultimately we need to see good labor market data
to confirm that the recovery is in place."
                                
 Shares of UPS rose 5.3 percent after it posted results from
the first quarter that were sharply above consensus and the
company raised its profit outlook, the latest bellwether to
exceed expectations this earnings season. [ID:nSGE63E0IM]
                                
 The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed up 21.46
points, or 0.19 percent, at 11,144.57. The Standard & Poor's
500 Index <.SPX> was up 1.02 points, or 0.08 percent, at
1,211.67. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 10.83
points, or 0.43 percent, at 2,515.69.
                                
 Concerns over any Greek aid added to the allure of
safe-haven bonds and gold even after Greece asked for official
talks with European authorities and the International Monetary
Fund, a step toward Athens obtaining emergency loans.
[ID:nLDE63E0HN]
                                
 Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes <US10YT=RR> were trading
6/32 higher in price to yield 3.84 percent.
                                
 The euro fell broadly, snapping five straight days of
gains, while the cost of insuring against a Greek default rose
and the Greek-German government bond yield spread widened to
near record levels.
                                
 The euro <EUR=> was on track for its biggest one-day fall
against the dollar in three weeks, off 0.5 percent at $1.3574.
                                
 The yield spread of 10-year Greek government bonds against
German Bunds <GR10YT=TWEB><DE10YT=TWEB> closed slightly wider
at 413 basis points after widening to 436 basis points earlier
in the session.
                                
 "There was all this talk from the capitals in Europe saying
they have to pass legislation first in order to get the loans
going," said Richard Franulovich, senior currency strategist,
at WestPac in New York. "Then Germany is saying Greece needs to
approach it before it can pass legislation. That has caused a
bit of consternation and concern."
                                
 U.S. gold futures ended a tad higher, despite a dollar
rise, as persistent worries about Greece prompted buying.
[ID:nN15568548]
                                
 The June contract <GCM0> settled up 70 cents at $1,160.30
an ounce.
                                
 U.S. oil prices ended lower as the stronger dollar and
mixed economic data pulled crude back from earlier gains that
followed robust Chinese gross domestic product.
[ID:nN15562838]
                                
 Front-month U.S. crude <CLc1> for May delivery fell 33
cents, or 0.38 percent, to settle at $85.51 a barrel, after
ending 2 percent higher the previous day.
                                
 ICE Brent crude <LCOc1> for May rose $1.02 to settle at
$87.17, highest close since front-month Brent ended at $90.25
on Oct. 3, 2008. Brent's $87.58 intraday peak was the highest
since $87.99 was struck on Oct. 7, 2008.
                                
 The dollar was up against a basket of major currencies,
with the U.S. Dollar Index <.DXY> up 0.51 percent at 80.602.
                                
 Against the Japanese yen, the dollar <JPY=> was down 0.18
percent at 93.03.
 (Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica, Burton Frierson, Gertrude
Chavez-Dreyfuss and Robert Gibbons in New York; Joanne
Frearson, William James and Jan Harvey in London; writing by
Herbert Lash; Editing by Diane Craft)