In Asian Equity Markets stocks traded mixed on Monday, as investors digested geopolitical tensions on the back of U.S.-led airstrikes on Syria last week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.21 percent as the broader Topix added 0.28 percent. The financials sector was weaker, while pharmaceuticals and precision machinery stocks contributed to overall gains. In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi gave up early gains to slip 0.12 percent. Technology shares were a mixed picture, with Samsung Electronics gaining 0.96 percent, while manufacturing stocks were mostly lower. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tacked on 0.19 percent, with energy and utilities stocks among the top-performers.

In Currency Markets the US dollar fell on Monday as markets weighed the impact of strikes on Syria by the United States and its allies at the weekend, although losses were limited as the military action did not result in broad risk aversion. The U.S. currency was 0.1 percent lower at 107.245 yen after a brief rise to 107.610. It was within reach of a near two-month high of 107.780 yen set on Friday. The pound was 0.2 percent higher at $1.4261 after rising to a near three-month high of $1.4296 on Friday. Expectations of a rate rise from the Bank of England have been a major driver of sterling’s gains in recent days.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Friday, making the largest weekly gain since July, supported by concerns about the possibility of Western military action in Syria and reports of dwindling global oil inventories. The prospect of military action in Syria that could lead to confrontation with Russia hung over the Middle East but there was no sign a U.S.-led attack was imminent. Brent crude recovered from losses early in the session and settled up 56 cents at $72.58 a barrel, with a $5.48 weekly gain, or 8 percent. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 32 cents to $67.39 a barrel, up 8 percent for the week.

In US Equity Markets banks led a slide in U.S. stocks on Friday, as results from big lenders including JP Morgan failed to enthuse investors keeping a wary eye on Russia’s plan to consider banning some U.S. imports. The S&P 500 6.39 points, or 0.29 percent, at 2,657.6 and the Nasdaq Composite 29.07 points, or 0.41 percent, at 7,111.18. Citigroup and the S&P banks index also fell around 2.5 percent and the broader S&P financial index lost 1.3 percent, making it the biggest decliner among the 11 major S&P sectors. Wells Fargo fell 3.1 percent, also erasing initial gains, after the bank said it may have to pay a penalty of $1 billion to resolve investigations.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices dipped on Monday, while equities gained as investors felt the U.S.-led strikes on Syria over the weekend looked unlikely to escalate for now. The 10-year JGB yield rose half a basis point to 0.035 percent. The 20-year yield and 30-year yield each rose half a basis point to 0.505 percent and 0.700 percent, respectively. Caution ahead of Thursday’s 1 trillion yen ($9.32 billion)20-year JGB auction also weighed on the longer-dated maturities.