In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.4% lower. Household goods fell over 1% to lead losses while oil and gas stocks jumped 3% as crude prices soared following the oil attack in Saudi Arabia. Atlantia shares fell early 8% to the bottom of the Stoxx 600 on the back of Friday’s arrests. AMS fell more than 2% after the management and supervisory boards of Osram Licht, which is subject to a takeover offer from the Austrian chip-maker, expressed concerns about its strategy.

In Currency Markets the pound retreated further from last week’s gains following a heated remarks by Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on Monday showing that the gap between the British and European Union positions on Brexit remained far apart. On Monday, the pound fell 0.8% to 1.2408 after briefly popping above $1.25 in early Asian trading, its highest in nearly two months. It rose 1.7% last week. It also weakened by 0.2% against the euro to 88.68 pence. The pound had fallen to a three-year low below $1.20 earlier this month.

In Commodities Markets oil futures jumped 10% on Monday after an attack on Saudi Arabian crude oil processing facilities over the weekend sliced the kingdom’s production in half and threatened to hamper shipments from the world’s largest crude exporter. Prices initially jumped more than 20% after the open on Sunday evening, with Brent crude posting its biggest intra-day gain since the 1990-1991 Gulf crisis, before pulling back as various nations have said they would tap emergency supplies to keep the world supplied with oil.

In US Equity Markets indices fell on Monday on global growth worries after the weekend attack on Saudi Arabian crude facilities knocked out 5% of the world’s supply, while a more than 10% jump in oil prices lifted beaten-down energy stocks. The S&P 500 was down 0.32%, at 2,997.91. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.35%, at 8,148.32. The S&P 500 Energy one of the worst performing sectors this year, jumped 3.18%, its best day since Jan. 4. General Motors Co fell 2.7% after the United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike on Sunday, the first nationwide strike at GM in 12 years.

In Bond Markets bond yields in the euro zone’s higher-rated debt markets fell on Monday as attacks on Saudi Arabia’s crude facilities and uncertainty over the chances of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson securing a new Brexit deal boosted safe-haven assets. Most longer-dated euro zone government bond yields were down 4 basis points. German 10-year bond yields were down 2.5 bps at -0.48%. Germany’s 30-year bond yield was down 4 bps at 0.05%, edging back towards negative territory after rising during last week’s decline.