GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares firm on EU Greece pledge, euro slips

* EU pledge to support Greece, U.S. job data boost stocks

* But euro eases on lack of detail on Greece aid plan

* Report that Merkel refuses to rescue Greece also weighs

* Gold off one-off high, oil eases as dollar firms

By Kevin Yao

SINGAPORE, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose for fourth straight day on Friday as investors cheered the EU's pledge to aid Greece, but the euro faltered on disappointment over the lack of detailed plans to pull Athens out of its deficit spiral.

European stocks <.FTSE> were also expected to open higher, following gains in Asia and on Wall Street as European leaders sought to prop up Greece and after upbeat economic data from China boosted commodity prices and shares of resource companies.

The euro remained under pressure, however, on concerns that European powers were still squabbling over whether to bail out Greece and fears that, if even they do agree, any aid package could lead to more fiscal problems in the euro zone in the longer-term.

The single currency hovered near $1.3670, slightly below late Thursday levels, after a newspaper report that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had resisted a quick rescue of Greece at a European Union summit on Thursday that failed to offer concrete proposals to help the country tackle its debt crisis. [ID:nLDE61B02A}

Any detailed proposals for Greece are likely to be discussed by EU finance ministers at meetings in Brussels early next week, and the Greek government could still baulk if aid is linked to it adopting even tougher fiscal austerity measures. [ID:nLDE61A0W2]

Currency traders were also cautious ahead of GDP readings for Germany, France, Italy and the euro zone later in the day which were expected to show only tepid growth in the fourth quarter.

"I think people are uneasy over the Guardian article where Merkel sounded as though she's not in a very generous mood," said Sean Callow, currency strategist at Westpac.

But Callow said Asian equities were taking more of a cue from gains on Wall Street.

U.S. stocks rose as much as 1.4 percent overnight as fears of a more immediate, broader euro zone crisis eased and on data showing a dip in U.S. weekly jobless claims. High unemployment in the United States has left consumers in the world's largest economy reluctant to spend, impeding a global recovery. [.N]

The MSCI index of Asian stocks traded outside Japan <.MIAPJ0000PUS> rose nearly half of a percent, while the Nikkei <.N225> gained 1.3 percent, catching up with other global markets after a holiday on Thursday.

The MSCI ex-Japan index is still down 10 percent over the past month as traders sold riskier assets amid worries about the fiscal stability of Greece, Portugal and Spain as well as China's moves to curb lending to keep its economy from overheating.

Shares of resource firms led gains in much of Asia as metal prices rose on positive Chinese data. China on Thursday reported strong loan growth in January, while consumer inflation moderated more than expected. [ID:nTOE61A00V]

Japan's Mitsubishi Corp <8058.T> rose 3.3 percent while global miners BHP Biliton and Rio Tinto rose 1.2 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.

Trade was thin, however, ahead of long Lunar New Year holidays next week in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea.

"A series of negative factors such as concerns about Greece's problems and China's tightening policy are now priced in. But we still lack reasons to buy up the market further," said Masaru Hamasaki, senior strategist at Toyota Asset Management.

EURO FALTERS

The euro may get some near-term support but traders said investors stood ready to sell it on rallies above $1.3700 on worries about fiscal problems in other weaker euro zone states. Greece's ballooning deficit and debt have reverberated across financial markets in recent months, hitting the euro, stocks and some government bonds.

Emerging market equity funds suffered net outflows in the week ended Feb. 10, largely as a result of jitters over Greece, Boston-based fund tracker EPFR Global said on Thursday. [ID:nN11107237]

Emerging market equity funds had net outflows of $2.9 billion, with $1.76 billion - a 60-week high - coming just from the diversified global emerging markets equity funds (GEM) category, according to EPFR.

Gold fell $6.30 to $1,089.55 an ounce after rising to a one-week high the previous day as the euro softened, while oil eased 40 cents to below $75 a barrel. (Editing by Kim Coghill)