Fed lifts stocks, dollar; euro tests 1999 starting point

By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar hit a nine-year high and stocks worldwide headed for their first back-to-back rise of the year on Thursday, bolstered by Federal Reserve confidence in the U.S. economy and hopes of aggressive new stimulus in Europe. Wall Street was expected to start the day on the front foot, with future's markets pointing to gains of 0.9-1.0 percent for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial after stocks snapped a five-day fall the previous session. Steadier oi