Europe Stocks Edge Higher

European stocks edged higher as investors mulled the U.S.

U.S. stocks edged higher at Monday’s opening bell as investors found hope in news that European leaders might come up with a new strategy to resolve the region’s debt crisis.

Asian stocks recovered Wednesday on bargain hunting after huge losses in the previous session, but gains were limited by lingering fears about European debt and tensions on the Korean peninsula.Traders took their cue from Wall Street, where the Dow recovered from heavy losses to end down just 0.23 percent, although a weak euro continued to hurt exporters despite European austerity measures.Seoul closed 1.36 percent, or 21.29 points, higher at 1,582.12 after plunging Tuesday following unconfirmed reports that the North had put its civilians and army on combat alert.

European stocks edged higher, though worries about Spain and the escalating euro-zone debt crisis continue to weigh.

European stocks edged higher, though worries about Spain and the escalating euro-zone debt crisis continue to weigh.

Stocks edged higher in choppy trading Monday as investors turned their attention toward mixed headlines out of Europe.

[AP] - Stocks edged higher Thursday as investors weighed stronger September retail sales in the U.S. against a decision by the European Central Bank not to lower interest rates.

IT REALLY is difficult to overstate the extent of the European Central Bank's failure in recent months. Earlier this year, headline inflation rose in Europe behind rising commodity prices. The Bank of England and the Federal Reserve considered the increase in inflation, looked at emerging market efforts to tighten policy, tightening fiscal conditions in their economies, and general economic weakness and concluded that the bump would be short-lived. It's not going too far to say that it was obvious they would be short-lived.