Article updated: 2/19/2013 7:29 AM

World stocks muted ahead of US return from holiday

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during Monday's session of Upper House Budget Committee in Tokyo .

Associated Press

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World stock markets were muted Tuesday, with Asian shares slightly lower after investors drew profits from recent rallies. European markets opened higher a day after the German central bank said the country will likely avoid recession.The Bundesbank said in its monthly report Monday that the country should avoid recession since it is showing signs of growth so far this year. Europe's largest economy shrank 0.6 percent in the last quarter of 2012. Two straight quarters of falling output is a common definition of recession.