In Asian Equity Markets stocks were mixed on Monday, the first trading day of the second half of the year, with trade tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners still a key concern for investors. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.09 percent as the consumer goods and utilities sectors logged declines. Retailer stocks were down 1.8 percent, with Fast Retailing lower by 0.77 percent. Over in Seoul, losses on the Kospi steepened slightly, with the index last trading lower by 0.47 percent. Samsung Electronics was up 0.21 percent while most other technology names declined.

In Currency Markets the euro slipped back in early Monday trade after German Chancellor Angela Merkel was dealt a fresh blow when her interior minister offered to quit in an escalating row over migration policy. The common currency last stood traded at $1.1657, down 0.28 percent from late U.S. trade on Friday. Against the safe-haven Swiss franc, it fell 0.1 percent to 1.1560 franc. Mexican peso gained 1.1 percent on Monday as exit polls showed Mexicans voted overwhelmingly for anti-establishment outsider Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Sunday’s presidential election.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell by more than 1 percent on Monday as supplies from top exporter Saudi Arabia rose and as signs of an economic slowdown in Asia dented the outlook for demand. Brent crude oil futures were at $78.16 per barrel, down $1.07, or 1.35 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 94 cents, or 1.3 percent, at $73.21 a barrel, after rising more than 8 percent last week. Oil markets are also awaiting the impact of looming U.S. sanctions against major exporter crude Iran.

In US Equity Markets indices edged higher on Friday, as a surge in Nike Inc shares helped the quarter close out on an upswing while concerns over U.S. international trade relations ebbed. The S&P 500 gained 0.08 percent, to 2,718.37 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.09 percent, to 7,510.30. On Friday, shares of Nike jumped 13 percent to hit an all-time high of $81 after the world’s largest footwear maker reported a return to growth in North America in the last quarter and gave an upbeat forecast for the year. Nike shares ended the day up 11.1 percent to $79.68.

In Bond Markets longer-dated Treasury yields fell on Friday and the yield curve hit its flattest level in more than 10 years after U.S. consumer spending growth in May undershot analysts’ expectations. Benchmark 10-year notes gained 4/32 in price to yield 2.833 percent, holding just above a low of 2.822 percent reached on Thursday, which was the lowest since May 31. The yield curve between two-year and 10-year notes flattened to 30 basis points, the flattest level since 2007.