Weak euro zone, Asia pin hopes on U.S. economy for global bounce

Euro zone business growth was weaker than expected this month and factory activity in Asia's top two economies remained stuck in low gear, putting the onus squarely on the United States to drive a pick-up in global growth.

An absence of inflation pressures suggested Asian authorities could inject more stimulus if needed, while growth in the troubled currency union weakened just two months after the European Central Bank launched a 1-trillion-euro stimulus programme.