"We saw a steeper decline in heart rate and a faster physiological stress recovery when they were smiling, " even though the participants weren't aware they were making facial expressions, says Sarah Pressman, co-author of the study and an assistant psychology professor at University of California, Irvine.

WSJ: Stress-Busting Smiles

Concerns over the health of U.S. banks have cast a shadow over the recent recovery, and the stress-test results, showing most U.S. banks would be well-capitalized in the event of an economic downturn, helped allay some of those worries.

WSJ: Nasdaq Closes Above 3000

That service orientation is critical, because wireless carriers stress revenue generation over cost recovery.

FORBES: Surviving Iridium

So, while chronic stress is always bad for you, a short period of mild stress followed by a period of recovery can be good.

ECONOMIST: How to live longer��maybe

This promotes recovery of the use of your muscles, but it also places added stress on the nerve cell body to nourish the additional fibers.

CNN: Post-polio syndrome

The research began to establish a clear pattern of stress-induced craving for drugs -- both for those early in recovery and those who were actively using.

CNN: Stress may be causing your cravings

That confidence was in recovery mode as the euro zone debt crisis receded from front pages worldwide, but the European bank stress tests are creating anxiety for some investors.

FORBES: Austerity Does A Lizzie Borden Number On The Recovery

It can lend that money to other countries in financial stress, with the aim of creating global financial stability and a sounder footing for the world economic recovery.

BBC: Osborne faces IMF funding backlash from MPs