In Asian Equity Markets indices were lower on Monday. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.3 percent while the Topix index declined 0.77 percent. South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.29 percent. Chinese shares traded down: The Shanghai composite declined 1 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 2.65 percent. Australia’s ASX 200 struggled for gains, trading down 0.47 percent as most sectors declined. The energy sector was off 1.38 percent as oil stocks mostly sold off. Shares of Santos fell 1.7 percent, Oil Search was down 1.5 percent and Woodside Petroleum declined 2.24 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar lost ground against most of its major peers on Monday, as growing expectations of an orderly Brexit bolstered the pound, euro and broader global investor sentiment. A Sunday Times report that an all-UK customs deal will be written into the agreement governing Britain’s withdrawal from the EU cheered investors who sent the pound to $1.3062 on Monday, the highest since Oct. 22. The pound retraced its intra-day high in early thin Asian trade, but was up 0.3 percent for the day.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Monday as the start to U.S. sanctions against Iran’s fuel exports was softened by waivers that will allow major buyers to still import Iranian crude, at least temporarily. Front-month Brent crude futures were at $72.40 per barrel at 0332 GMT on Monday, down 43 cents, or 0.6 percent from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 46 cents, or 0.7 percent, at $62.68 a barrel. Brent has lost more than 16 percent in value since early October.

In US Equity Markets stocks snapped a three-day rally on Friday as Apple shares dropped following a disappointing forecast and the White House dampened optimism over U.S.-China trade talks. Apple Inc fell 6.6 percent, sending its market value below $1 trillion at the close, a day after the iPhone maker warned that sales for the crucial holiday quarter may miss expectations. The S&P 500 lost 0.63 percent, to 2,723.06, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.04 percent, to 7,356.99. Chevron Corp gained 3.2 percent after reporting its quarterly profit doubled on record oil and gas production.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury prices fell on Friday, with the 30-year yield hitting a four-year peak, as strong October job and wage growth data reinforced bets on rising inflation and more interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. The benchmark 10-year government note yield ended at 3.212 percent, up nearly 7 basis points. It approached the 7-1/2 year high of 3.261 percent reached on Oct. 9. The 30-year Treasury yield climbed to 3.464 percent, the highest since July 2014. The two-year yield, which is most sensitive to Fed policy, hit 2.920 percent, which was last seen in June 2008.