STEVE INSKEEP, host: NPR's business news starts with world markets improving.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Stock markets in Asia and Europe today are hitting their highest levels in a month. The main reason for the new highs, analysts say, is the American economy. Last week's job numbers in the United States were not quite as bad as many has predicted, and that's giving global investors some confidence that we are not headed into a double-dip recession.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: The American markets are closed today for Labor Day, but last week, they finished in the black - ahead for the first time in a month.
Stock markets in Asia and Europe were hitting their highest levels in a month Monday. The main reason for the new highs, analysts say, is the U.S. economy. Last week's job numbers in the U.S. were not quite as bad as many had predicted. That's giving global investors some confidence that the U.S. is not headed into a double-dip recession.