GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks gain as European shares hit new highs, dollar slips

World stocks edged higher on Thursday, helped by surging European stocks and a larger-than-expected rise in U.S. weekly jobless claims that buoyed interest rate cut hopes, while the dollar eased as the market awaits key inflation data next week. After a sluggish open on Wall Street, the major U.S. indices pulled higher, new signs of a softening labor market provided hope the Federal Reserve to could cut interest rates not only once this year but twice. U.S. initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased more than expected by 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000 for the week ended May 4, the Labor Department said.