In European Equity Markets indices closed higher Monday. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed up around 0.6 percent, with more sectors and major bourses in positive territory than negative. Europe’s industrial and financial stocks led the losses Monday, both sectors down 0.7 percent. Britain’s Hays was among the worst sectoral performers, with shares falling over 3 percent after Kepler Cheuvreux cut its target price for the stock. Britain’s Convatec fell to the bottom of the FTSE 250, after CEO Paul Moraviec told the company’s board he wished to retire.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar fell on Monday after retail sales data for September missed economists’ expectations, and as benchmark U.S. Treasury yields consolidated after last week hitting their highest level in seven years. U.S. retail sales barely rose in September as a rebound in motor vehicle purchases was offset by the biggest decline in spending at restaurants and bars in nearly two years. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast an increase of 0.6 percent. Safe haven currencies the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc gained on Monday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices steadied on Monday as tension over the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist stoked supply worries, balancing concerns over the long-term demand outlook. Benchmark Brent crude oil jumped by $1.49 a barrel to a high of $81.92 before giving up its gains to trade around $80.38, down 5 cents. U.S. crude was down 5 cents at $71.29. Saudi Arabia has been under pressure since Khashoggi, a critic of Riyadh and a U.S. resident, disappeared on Oct. 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Monday as an increase in tensions between Western powers and Saudi Arabia added to worries over rising borrowing costs and the impact of tariffs, following the main three indexes’ biggest weekly declines in over seven months. Among the biggest drag on the three major indexes was Apple, which fell 1.6 percent after Goldman Sachs said there were multiple signs of rapidly slowing consumer demand in China, which could affect demand for iPhones this fall. the S&P 500 was down 0.48 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.95 percent.

In Bond Markets Portuguese and Italian government bond yields fell on Monday, outperforming euro zone peers after Moody’s ratings agency upgraded Portugal by one notch, back to investment grade, and Italy’s budget plans came back into focus. Italy’s 10-year bond yield was also down two bps on the day at 3.56 percent after the cabinet delayed approval of Italy’s 2019 budget by one day to Tuesday. Germany’s 10-year bond yield fell to 0.478 percent , its lowest in almost two weeks, before settling at 0.50 percent towards the close.