ZURICH - THE world's biggest watchmaker Swatch Group is expecting sales to improve in the second half of this year after a difficult start to the year, group's CEO Nick Hayek said in remarks published on Sunday.

'After a difficult start this year, we are now experiencing a substantial month to month improvement,' Mr Hayek told Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag.

FRANKFURT - SOME hard data is now underpinning prospects for a global economic recovery, but world leaders urge caution and at least one says the worst is still to come for some.

So should we perk up and head for the high street, keep cash ready under the bed, or prepare for long, hard times? Some sample figures released this week gave reason for hope.

WASHINGTON - THE slow impact of a massive US economic stimulus program approved earlier this year has prompted renewed talk about another effort to stem rising unemployment and jolt the economy from recession.

Only a small portion of the US$787 billion (S$1.5 trillion) authorised for economic stimulus in February has been pumped into the economy, failing to prevent a rise in joblessness to a 26-year high of 9.5 per cent.