In Asian Equity Markets indices were mixed on Monday morning trade as investors awaited developments on the U.S.-China trade front. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose around 0.2 percent. Shares of rail operator MTR declined about 1 percent after a train collision disrupted services in the city. The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.31 percent as shares of index heavyweights Fast Retailing, Softbank Group and Fanuc all advanced. Over in South Korea, the Kospi was marginally lower as shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics declined more than 1 percent.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar licked its wounds on Monday after soft U.S. data increased bets the Federal Reserve will cut rates later this year while the pound hovered near nine-months high on hopes for a delay in Britain’s exit from the European Union. The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies stood at 96.564, having shed 0.81 percent last week, the biggest loss since late August. The British pound stood not far from last week’s nine-month high of $1.3380, supported by relief that a no-deal Brexit will likely be averted. It last stood at $1.3292.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell slightly early on Monday, weighed down by concerns that a global economic downturn may dent fuel consumption. Brent crude oil futures were at $67.03 per barrel, down 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close, but not far off the $68.14 per barrel 2019-high reached last week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $58.37 per barrel, down 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last settlement, and also not far off their 2019-high of $58.95 from the previous week.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Friday, led by technology companies as a report on progress in U.S.-China trade talks lifted sentiment, pushing the Nasdaq and S&P 500 to their best weeks of the year. The S&P 500 gained 0.50 percent, to 2,822.47 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.76 percent, to 7,688.53. Broadcom Inc jumped 8.2 percent and was among the biggest boosts to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, after the company late on Thursday reported a quarterly profit that beat analysts’ estimates.

In Bond Markets benchmark 10-year and 2-year U.S. Treasury yields on Friday fell to their lowest levels since early January, weighed down by weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data that suggested the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady for the rest of the year. Both 10-year and 30-year U.S. yields have declined in seven of the last 10 sessions, reflecting a benign inflation outlook and slowing growth in the world’s largest economy. U.S. 10-year prices rose, as yields fell to 2.596 percent from 2.63 percent late on Thursday.