Japanese figures on Monday are likely to show a small rise in industrial production, confirming that a slow recovery is under way, and purchasing managers' surveys should show a small upturn in China.
There should also be good signs of growth in the US. On Monday, official figures should show small rises last month in personal incomes and spending, and Wednesday's ISM survey is expected to show another small rise in manufacturing output. And on Friday we should see a net increase in non-farm jobs of around 170,000 - although this probably won't be enough to reduce unemployment below last month's 7.6 per cent.