In European Equity Markets stocks lacked an overall direction in late Monday trading, closing mixed as investors digested different political events. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down 0.09 percent, with the various sectors taking different directions. Technology was down by about 1.5 percent, whereas oil and gas stocks jumped by about the same amount. Looking at individual stocks, Vopak rose 4.7 percent after reporting higher-than-expected results. Siemens health care also jumped 2.7 percent on its latest earnings release.

In Currency Markets the US dollar paused after three consecutive weeks of gains as investors took profits before U.S. midterm elections this week that may fuel a bout of volatility for global markets, with the British pound leading gains on Brexit deal breakthrough hopes. British pound traded up half a percent versus the dollar near a 10-day high of $1.3065. Versus the euro it climbed to 87.33 pence, its highest since Oct. 11, trading up 0.4 percent on the day. The pound enjoyed its best day of the year against the dollar on Thursday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices recovered some ground on Monday after five days of heavy losses as the United States imposed a range of punitive sanctions on Iran, aiming to curb exports by the Islamic Republic, including its sales of fuel. The move is part of a wider effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to curb Iran’s missile and nuclear programs and diminish its influence in the Middle East. Benchmark Brent crude oil was up 80 cents a barrel at $73.63. U.S. light crude was 50 cents higher at $63.64.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and the Dow rose on Monday, supported by energy stocks and strong results from Berkshire Hathaway Inc, while a 3 percent drop in Apple Inc shares dragged down the Nasdaq. The S&P energy index rose 1.21 percent, leading gains among the major S&P sectors. Apple fell 3.3 percent, adding to its near 7 percent fall on Friday, after the Nikkei reported the company has told two smartphone assemblers to halt plans for additional production lines dedicated to the lower-cost iPhone XR. The S&P 500 was up 0.07 percent, at 2,725.05 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.83 percent, at 7,296.18.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Monday as traders braced for $83 billion worth of government debt supply tied to the November refunding this week and awaited the outcome of the U.S. congressional elections on Tuesday. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was more than 1 basis point lower at 3.197 percent. The 30-year bond yield dipped 1.2 basis points to 3.442 percent after on Friday touching 3.464 percent, which was the highest since July 2014. The two-year yield slipped 0.5 basis point at 2.907 percent after hitting 2.920 percent on Friday, a level not seen June 2008.