The wave of natural disasters that swept the globe in recent months did not spare Courtney Fingar'shome state of Alabama. Amid the worry and despair, a letter of sympathy from a Ukrainian mayor showed how one kind gesture can lead to unlikely new friendships and perhaps even new business opportunities

The latest Global Outlook Report has given Courtney Fingara new perspective on 2010. While zero growth, rising unemployment and soaring prices confirm that last year is not one we'd want to repeat in a hurry, there were encouraging signs too. The road ahead may be bumpy, but all the indicators suggest we've finally turned a corner