In Asian Equity Markets the Nikkei 225 edged up by 0.14 percent in the early going, with utilities edging higher. Among index heavyweights, Fanuc gained 1.1 percent while Fast Retailing eased 0.27 percent. In South Korea, the Kospi added 0.39 percent. Steelmakers and retailers contributed to gains, with Posco jumping 4.04 percent. Among tech names, index bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.44 percent while SK Hynix fell 3 percent. Down Under, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.68 percent, with the materials subindex leading gains.

In Currency Markets the dollar remained steady against a basket of its peers on Monday after the U.S. job data reinforced investors’ expectations the Federal Reserve will gradually raise interest rates this year. The euro hit a 4-1/2-week low against the dollar on Monday. The single currency traded at $1.15625 after touching as low as $1.1557, its lowest level since changing hands at $1.15275 on June 28. The offshore yuan was nearly flat, trading at 6.846 yuan per dollar. The yen was barely changed against the dollar at 111.25 yen.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Monday after Saudi crude production registered a surprising dip in July and as American shale drilling appeared to plateau. Markets also anticipated an announcement from Washington due later on Monday detailing renewed U.S. sanctions against major oil exporter Iran. Spot Brent crude oil futures were trading at $73.68 per barrel on Monday, up 47 cents, or 0.6 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 37 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $68.86 barrel.

In US Equity Markets stocks advanced on Friday as upbeat earnings helped investors shrug off heightened trade anxieties and weaker-than-expected July jobs growth. Shares of Dish Network Corp jumped 14.5 percent following its better-than-expected quarterly earnings report. The S&P 500 gained 0.46 percent, to 2,840.35 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.12 percent, to 7,812.02.O f the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, energy was the sole percentage loser. For the week, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained ground, up 0.8 percent and 1.0 percent.

In Bond Markets the middle of U.S. yield curve fell faster than the short and long ends on Friday as China unveiled retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion of U.S.-made goods and the White House said President Donald Trump’s resolve was firm on China trade matters. The five-, seven- and 10-year note yields all fell more than 3 basis points with the five- and seven-year yields both down 3.5 basis points from late Thursday. The benchmark 10-year note yield was last at 2.954 percent, down 3.2 basis points from Thursday and 6.2 basis points below the week’s high of 3.016 percent.