green shoot
n.— «In recent weeks, “green shoots,” or signs of improvement in the economy (the term was coined by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke), have been eagerly received by investors who’ve been looking for reasons to jump back into equities after the long bear market.» —“Stocks soar worldwide as ‘green shoots’ lure hungry bulls” Los Angeles Times May 4, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)