LONDON : World stocks held near record highs, gold retreated and the dollar won a reprieve, ahead of a widely anticipated Federal Reserve rate cut later on Wednesday against a backdrop of concern about the future of central bank independence. European shares were higher in early trade, U.S. stock futures were flat to a touch firmer, Japan's blue-chip Nikkei index pulled back from record highs and the dollar was a touch firmer a day after it took a beating on Fed easing bets. The Fed is expected