SINGAPORE — Global markets were subdued Monday as the price of oil rose and investors looked to the release of economic data by the U.S. and China that could show the effects of a trade dispute between the world’s two biggest economies.
KEEPING SCORE: Germany’s DAX lost 0.8 percent to 11,442 while Britain’s FTSE 100 shed 0.1 percent to 7,099. France’s CAC 40 lost 0.2 percent to 5,098. Wall Street appeared set for a weak opening. Futures for the S&P 500 index were 0.1 percent lower while Dow futures dropped 0.2 percent.
ASIA’S DAY: Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.1 percent to 22,269.88. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.1 percent to 25,633.18. The Shanghai Composite index rebounded 1.2 percent to 2,630.52 after closing lower every day last week. Australia’s S&P-ASX 200 gained 0.3 percent to 5,941.30. The Kospi in South Korea dipped 0.3 percent to 2,080.44. Shares were flat in Thailand but were lower in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
GLOBAL GROWTH: Markets are watching for the release of U.S. inflation data by the Labor Department on Wednesday, which zeros in on consumer prices. A high figure could bolster expectations of rate increases by the Federal Reserve. In Asia, traders are awaiting industrial production data from China and Japan. They will be looking for indications of a recovery in the Chinese economy, where auto sales fell for the fourth straight month in October. Concerns over China’s softening economic growth and its simmering trade dispute with the U.S. have weighed on global stock markets.
ANALYST’S TAKE: “It is a data-centric week this week where U.S. CPI is expected to be the highlight for hints on the Fed and also the wider market, particularly the greenback,” Jingyi Pan of IG said in a market commentary.
ENERGY: Oil futures rose on news that major producers planned to reduce output. Saudi Arabian energy minister Khalid al-Falih said Sunday that the kingdom will reduce exports by around 500,000 barrels a day from November to December. Russian oil minister Alexander Novak said at a meeting of oil producers in Abu Dhabi that his country was open to cuts. Benchmark U.S. crude bounced back from 10 days of losses, adding 34 cents to $60.53 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract shed 48 cents to $60.19 in the previous session. Brent crude, used to price international oils, picked up 87 cents to $71.05. It fell 47 cents to $70.18 in London.
CURRENCIES: The dollar strengthened to 113.90 yen from 113.83 yen late Friday, while the euro fell to $1.1257 from $1.1345. The pound slumped to $1.2872 from $1.2974 amid concerns that Britain’s government is struggling to find unity on a Brexit deal.
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