European stocks edge up, euro stuck before Italy auction

LONDON/TOKYO (Reuters) - European stocks edged up on Tuesday, catching the tailwind of a pre-holiday U.S. rally, while the euro was hamstrung by the prospect of a large Italian debt auction later in the week. Oil prices were buoyed by positive U.S. jobs and housing data late last week as well as the prospect of sanctions against Syria choking off production there. At 0920 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.4 percent at 993.98 points in thin trade. Stock markets in Britain, Hong Kong and Australia remained closed. ...