FRANKFURT (AFX) - European Central Bank president Wim Duisenberg said that the recent data flow has strengthened the bmic recovery in the course of this year. "(The) trough in economic activity was in all likelihood reached at the end of last year. "Further information received over the past few weeks, i.e. surveys, financial market and leading indicators, strengthened the expectations of a recovery in the course of this year. "While some uncertainty remains as regards the precise pattern of the recovery, nor least in the context of a substantial increase in oil prices, the latest evidence has reinforced our previous assessment," Duisenberg said.