U.S. economy hopes give European stocks respite

LONDON (Reuters) - Signs of renewed momentum in the giant U.S. economy boosted European stocks and supported the euro on Friday, but any gains in holiday-thinned markets are likely to prove short-lived with concerns about the euro zone debt crisis undiminished. "There's no doubt that events in the euro area in the first quarter of next year... have the potential to have a profound impact across the globe," said Chris Scicluna, an economist at Daiwa Capital Markets. The single currency edged up 0.1 percent to $1.3065, holding above a recent 11-month low of $1. ...