* MSCI world equity index up 0.4 pct at 290.88
* U.S. stocks lose grip, falter at midday
* U.S. dollar hits 1-year low to euro, recovers some
By Al Yoon
NEW YORK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A measure of global stocks reached an 11-month high on Thursday as economic reports supported themes of recovery, pushing currency investors seeking riskier trades out of U.S. dollars.
But U.S. shares edged lower as some disappointing corporate profits reined in enthusiasm over an economy still seen as vulnerable to rising unemployment.
Shares globally are flirting with their highest levels since the September 2008 collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers, illustrating that investors believe the worst of the credit crisis and U.S. recession has passed.
U.S. government and industry data showed mixed signs of strength, giving rise to hopes that the nation's employment outlook may stabilize after the loss of 6.9 million jobs during the recession. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index has already rallied 58 percent since March on such confidence, however, leading investors to turn more cautious.
A steep drop in profit from package shipping giant FedEx Corp also helped dampen the rally that dominated trading in Asia and Europe.
FedEx said it saw growing signs of stability in the "modestly improving global economy."
"The economy is clearly on the mend, but it's not a straight line," said David Katz, chief investment officer at Matrix Asset Advisors in New York.
Stocks initially rose after the United States said the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly fell last week, while starts on new homes increased to their highest levels since November. These figures supported a view from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday that the recession was likely over, even if the economy is not capable of more than sluggish growth.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said business activity in its region jumped to its highest since June 2007.
European shares reached their highest since early October for a second straight day, boosted by energy and financial stocks that would benefit from economies on the mend. The FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top European shares closed higher by 0.51 percent, at 1,011.26.
The broader MSCI world equity index <.MIWD00000PUS> rose 0.4 percent to 290.88, a level also not seen since October, bringing its gain this year to almost 28 percent.
U.S. indexes shed early gains, with the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> down 0.08 percent to 9,783.92. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> declined 0.31 percent to 1,065.49, and the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 0.15 percent, to 2,080.90.
Shares of FedEx
U.S. government debt trading signaled investors were skeptical of the depth of an economic rebound.
The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note
The dollar declined, but recuperated against a basket of currencies after hitting a one-year low against the euro in earlier trading. The ICE Futures dollar index <.DXY>, which hit a one-year low of 76.010 earlier on Thursday, traded at 76.224, down just 0.02 percent from Wednesday.
The euro gained 0.2 percent to $1.4736
The U.S. currency has struggled as investors anticipating a recovery sought other currencies that would maximize profits.
"The trend of dollar selling is getting a little tired," said Vassili Serebriakov, a strategist at Wells Fargo in New York, "but the market is still optimistic on the recovery."
In Asia, an upgrade in Japan's view on the economy, upbeat Chinese data and bullish comments from a senior Beijing government economist prompted investors to buy riskier assets.
Chen Dongqi, China's senior government economist, said the country's economy may regain double-digit annual growth in the fourth quarter of this year, potentially bringing monetary policy tightening closer.
Japan's Nikkei stock average <.N225> rose 1.7 percent to 10,443.80, buoyed by exporting companies, after upbeat U.S. economic data this week boosted hopes of rising demand. (Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak, Caroline Valetkevitch and Nick Olivari, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)