STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Shares stay higher after U.S. open

European shares remain higher after the start of trading on Wall Street, where sentiment is boosted by a drop in initial jobless claims.

The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares is up 1.3 percent at 828.07 points, compared with the day's high of 829.88. Miners are among the outstanding gainers, as the price of copper and other metals rises.

Anglo American (AAL.L), Antofagasta (ANTO.L), BHP Billiton (BLT.L), Fresnillo (FRES.L) and Rio Tinto (RIO.L) rise between 2.1 and 10.5 percent.

The Dow Jones .DJI, S&P 500 .SPX and Nasdaq Composite .IXIC are up between 0.5 and 0.7 percent in early trading.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell sharply last week though the data was distorted by an unusual pattern of layoffs in the automotive industry, which amplified the decline. [ID:nN09442078]

Reuters Messaging: rm://brian.gorman.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net