In Asian Equity Markets stocks fell slightly on Monday as investors digested the release of a barrage of China economic data, shrugging off the gains seen stateside in the previous session. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shed 0.34 percent, with materials and property stocks slumping in the morning. Utilities traded just above the flat line. South Korean stocks traded slightly lower, with the Kospi slipping 0.15 percent. Bank stocks declined, weighing on the broader index, but major technology names were mixed, with Samsung Electronics edging down by 0.65 percent.

In Currency Markets major currencies held around recent ranges on Monday thanks to a lull in China-U.S. trade skirmishing and as investors await key data from the world’s two biggest economies to determine whether global growth is running out of puff. The dollar paused at 112.39 yen, not far from a six-month top of 112.79 set on Friday. Elsewhere, the euro was subdued, but held above a nine-day trough of $1.1610 touched last week. It was last down 0.1 percent at 1.1677. The pound was a shade lower at $1.1322 from last week’s low of $1.3101.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Monday as concerns about supply disruptions eased and Libyan ports resumed export activities, while traders eyed potential supply increases by Russia and other oil producers. Brent crude futures were down 48 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $74.85 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 39 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $70.62 a barrel. Supply outages in Libya and strike action in Norway and Iraq pushed oil prices higher late last week, although prices still ended down for a second straight week.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose slightly on Friday, putting the S&P 500 at its highest closing level in more than five months, as gains in industrials and other areas offset a drop in financials after results from three of the big banks mostly disappointed. The industrial sector gained 0.6 percent, with Boeing Co, Caterpillar Inc and 3M Co all rose in the absence of any trade rhetoric overnight. The S&P 500 gained 0.11 percent, to 2,801.31 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.03 percent, to 7,825.98. The S&P 500 posted its highest closing level since Feb. 1.

In Bond Markets Treasury prices moved higher on Friday after the Federal Reserve reinforced views of strong U.S. economic growth in a report to Congress. U.S. benchmark 10-year notes have traded narrowly between 2.807 percent and 2.884 percent during the past two weeks. The yield on U.S. 10-year notes was 2 basis points lower on the day at 2.833 percent.