Shares edge higher, buoyed by upbeat results; sterling weakens

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock markets edged higher on Thursday amid upbeat earnings reports from a slew of companies worldwide, while the British pound slipped.Sterling lost ground as the possibility of a snap UK election and uncertainty over the European Union's decision on granting Britain an extension on its plan to leave the EU pulled the currency further off recent 5-1/2 month highs.Upbeat earnings from Microsoft..