Asian markets tracked gains on Wall Street, where stocks soared after Fed chief Ben Bernanke said US lawmakers should consider a second stimulus plan, warning the world's largest economy risked a "protracted slowdown".
His endorsement came after a forecast that the financial crisis could push worldwide unemployment to a record high and as new bank rescue efforts were unveiled in France and Sweden.
"With the economy likely to be weak for several quarters and with some risk of a protracted slowdown, consideration of a fiscal package by the Congress at this juncture seems appropriate," he told the House of Representatives budget committee.
When asked to say if the US economy was in recession, he replied only there was a "very serious slowdown in the economy which has very serious consequences for the public.
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The fallout for workers was made clear in a report by the International Labour Organisation, which warned that the number of unemployed worldwide would increase from 190 million