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May 8 (Bloomberg) -- Stocks rallied around the world asFederal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said a review of banks’health “should provide considerable comfort” and a reportshowing fewer job losses than forecast signaled the worst of therecession is over.

Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. jumped at least5.8 percent, while Fifth Third Bancorp rallied 36 percent. Thegovernment said U.S. banks need to raise only $74.6 billion incapital, which Bernanke said should reassure investors about thesoundness of the financial system. Target Corp. and Exxon MobilCorp. climbed as the government said employers cut 539,000 jobsin April, less than the average economist estimate of 600,000.