Greece aid hope helps euro, U.S. data buoys global stocks

TOKYO (Reuters) - The euro stabilized on Monday and Asian share markets rose after Greece requested emergency aid and as a raft of U.S. data showed its economic recovery was gathering strength.

Shares in Europe were expected to follow Asian markets higher, with Britain's FTSE 100 , Germany's DAX and France's CAC-40 all likely opening up about 0.5 percent.

Greece's finance minister said on Sunday aid from the EU and IMF would arrive in time to avert what would be the euro zone's first sovereign debt default, although there were growing signs that a 45 billion euro ($60 billion) rescue package would have to be bigger.

While Greece's debt crisis has cast a cloud over recovery prospects for Europe and rattled global markets, U.S. data on Friday underscored that the world's largest economy was continuing to gather strength, buoying investor sentiment.

New U.S. home sales rose at their fastest pace in 47 years in March and new orders for durable goods grew strongly, helping U.S. stocks to a 19-month high.