In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.23 percent higher with almost every sector in positive territory. Basic resources were the top performers, with the sector sensitive to news on global trade developments. In terms of stocks, Daily Mail and General Trust shares rose more than 4 percent. This followed news that the company is to return £896 million ($1.19 billion) to shareholders. Rightmove jumped 6 percent after J.P. Morgan said the firm seems resilient for now despite posting its slowest growth in nine years.

In Currency Markets sterling gained on Monday on signs some pro-Brexit lawmakers were increasingly willing to compromise with Prime Minister Theresa May, increasing the chances the British leader will get her Brexit deal through parliament next week. Sterling rose as much as half a percent against the euro to 85.60 pence before settling at 85.79. Versus the dollar, the pound added 0.1 percent to $1.3218. Last week sterling rose as high as $1.3351 as investors piled back into the currency in the belief a disorderly no-deal Brexit was far less likely.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Monday, buoyed by OPEC output cuts and reports that the United States and China are moving closer to a deal on a tariff row that has slowed global economic growth. Brent crude futures were up $1.13 at $66.20 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude futures were up $1.08 at $56.88. The United States and China appear close to a deal that would roll back U.S. tariffs on at least $200 billion worth of Chinese goods as Beijing makes pledges on structural economic changes and eliminates retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

In US Equity Markets indices pared gains on Monday after data showed U.S. construction spending unexpectedly fell in December, further evidence that the economy lost momentum at the tail end of 2018. The S&P 500 was down 0.4 percent after climbing nearly half a percent, breaking back below the key 2,800 level. The Nasdaq Composite traded 0.4 percent lower. Earlier in the day, it was up as much as 0.64 percent. Shares of Salesforce were the biggest decliners in the sector, falling more than 4 percent ahead of their quarterly earnings release.

In Bond Markets Greece’s benchmark 10-year government bond yields fell to their lowest since 2006 on Monday after Moody’s raised its rating late last week, bolstering investor optimism towards the euro zone’s most indebted country. Greece’s 10-year yield dropped to 3.60 percent in early trade on Monday, the lowest since January 2006, before pulling back to 3.67 percent after the 10-year bond deal announcement. Greek 10-year government bond yields have fallen nearly 75 basis points since January.