ASIA/PACIFIC
Asian markets mostly rose on Monday, buoyed by renewed optimism over trade negotiations and expectations of further stimulus measures from China. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Trump administration is pursuing bilateral trade agreements with 17 key trading partners, excluding China, and emphasized the need for a de-escalation of tensions with Beijing. Mainland China’s CSI 300 index dropped 0.14% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed flat. In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.38%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 ended the day 0.36% higher.
EUROPE
European stock markets closed mostly higher ahead of a week packed with corporate earnings and key economic data from both Europe and the United States. The Stoxx 600 index provisionally climbed 0.5%, led by gains in the travel and banking sectors. Germany’s DAX 40 went up by 0.13% at the closing bell, while France’s CAC 40 advanced by 0.50% and the FTSE 100 closed up 0.02% — its 11th consecutive day of gains and its best run since late 2019.
AMERICAS
The U.S. stock market closed with mixed results amid investor caution ahead of significant corporate earnings and economic data releases. The S&P 500 rose 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1%.
AFRICA
Egypt’s EGX30 blue-chip index climbed 0.5%, supported by a 0.7% rise in shares of Commercial International Bank (CIB). Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urged citizens to report any suspected illegal investment schemes for proper investigation and regulatory action.
MIDDLE EAST
Gulf stock markets ended higher, with investors anticipating earnings releases and holding onto hopes that the worst effects of tariffs are easing, despite lingering uncertainty around U.S. trade policy. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index added 0.2%, Dubai’s main share index rose 1%, while in Abu Dhabi, the index finished 0.8% higher. The Qatari index gained 0.3%. Additionally, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC successfully priced a $1.5 billion 10-year sukuk at a yield of 4.75%.
COMMODITIES
GOLD
Spot gold rebounded, rising 0.6% to $3,338.28 an ounce after an earlier session decline of up to 1.8%.
U.S. gold futures surged 1.6% to $3,349.60 as bargain hunters returned to the market.
OIL
Oil prices were steady amid ongoing economic uncertainty and concerns over OPEC+ supply. Brent crude futures edged up by 1 cent to $66.88 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 5 cents to $63.07 a barrel.
