In Asian Equity Markets the mainland Chinese markets fell in early trade after China reported lower than expected economic data last Friday. The Shanghai composite fell 0.6 percent while the Shenzhen composite declined by 1.35 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was lower by 0.35 percent in early trade. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.45 percent while the Topix index in Japan saw gains of 0.11. Shares of conglomerate Softbank recovered from their earlier losses to trade up by about 1 percent ahead of the anticipated public listing of its mobile unit on Dec. 19.

In Currency Markets the US dollar held near a 19-month high on Monday, bolstered by safe-haven buying as heightened concerns of a global economic slowdown reduced appetite for riskier assets such as stocks and Asian currencies. Weaker-than-expected economic data out of China and Europe and fears of a possible U.S. government shut down spooked investors away from stocks toward safe haven assets such as the greenback and yen. The offshore Chinese yuan was flat at 6.9013. The euro was also little changed at $1.1304, having lost 0.6 percent last week.

In Commodities Markets oil prices climbed on Monday after U.S. drilling activity fell to its lowest level in about two months, but increasing concerns about weaker growth in major economies kept a lid on gains. International Brent crude oil futures were at $60.37 per barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $51.44 per barrel, up 24 cents, or 0.5 percent. U.S. drillers cut four oil rigs in the week to Dec. 14, pulling the total count to the lowest since mid-October at 873.

In US Equity Markets the three major indexes fell on Friday and the Dow confirmed a correction as weak data from China and Europe stoked fears of a global economic slowdown, while Johnson & Johnson shares were the biggest drag after Reuters reported the company knew for decades that its Baby Powder contained asbestos. The S&P 500 lost 1.91 percent, to 2,599.95, 11.3 percent lower than its Sept. 20 record close. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.26 percent, to 6,910.67. Johnson & Johnson helped pull down the S&P healthcare index 3.4 percent.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond (JGB) prices edged broadly higher on Monday, with the benchmark yield trading at a more than five-month low hit in the previous session, as worries about slower global growth helped boost safe-haven demand for debt. The yield on benchmark 10-year JGBs fell half a basis point to 0.025 percent, the lowest since July 2 that was first hit in late Asian trade on Friday. The super-long zone followed suit, with the 20-year yield and the 30-year yield shedding one basis point each, to 0.540 percent and 0.770 percent, respectively.