Leading stock markets have been weighed down in the past few weeks, because of

The head of the American Federal Reserve Ban Bernanke says the United States has a considerable way to go to achieve a full economic recovery. Mr. Bernanke said unemployment was still high and housing market was weak. However, two encouraging economic surveys in the United States and Europe have helped global stock markets begin the week with rises after recent losses.
    Over the past few weeks,  [6]leading stock markets have been weighed down by concerns that the global economic recovery could be weakening. On Monday, there were signs that this may not be the case. A monthly index of manufacturing activity in the 16 countries that use the Euro was revised upwards, while a similar survey in the United States proved more positive than expected. Strong earnings from the British bank HSBC and the French bank BNP Paribas gave a further boost to share prices. Analysts say the news has increased investor confidence and tempered fears of a so-called "double-dip recession".