In Asian Equity Markets indices were mixed on Monday as major Chinese indexes jumped more than 2 percent. The Shanghai composite added 2.83 percent. The moves followed last Friday’s rally in Chinese stocks as authorities took steps to support the market after the release of weaker-than-expected GDP data. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 erased earlier losses of more than 1 percent to trade 0.34 percent lower while the Topix index declined 0.62 percent. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.28 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index rose 1.2 percent.

In Currency Markets the euro and the British pound edged down against the dollar on Monday as investors awaited developments around Brexit as well as Italy’s budget plan which drew heavy criticism from the European Union. The euro lost 0.1 percent versus the greenback, changing hands at $1.15, having gained 0.5 percent versus the dollar on Friday. Sterling was fetching $1.3055, down 0.1 percent against the dollar having hit an intra-day low of 1.3009 on Friday. The euro and British pound rallied against the U.S. dollar on Friday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged up on Monday, as markets were expected to tighten once U.S. sanctions against Iran’s crude exports are implemented next month. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were trading at $79.88 a barrel, 10 cents above their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $69.31 a barrel, 19 cents above their last settlement. Also in the United States, Intercontinental Exchange said its new Permian West Texas Intermediate crude futures contract deliverable in Houston, Texas, will begin trading on Monday.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 stock index edged lower on Friday as strong earnings from Procter & Gamble Co. were offset by ongoing concerns about rising interest rates and tensions over trade policy denting economic growth. Shares of Procter & Gamble jumped 8.8 percent after the consumer goods company reported a surprise rise in first-quarter sales. The S&P 500 lost 0.04 percent, to 2,767.78 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.48 percent, to 7,449.03. PayPal Holdings Inc. climbed 9.4 percent, after the payments company beat quarterly profit estimates.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose on Friday, with the 10-year yield hovering near a one-week high as traders pared safe-haven bond positions on a recovery in Wall Street stocks and hopes for reduced tension between Italy and the European Commission. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yield yield was 3.196 percent, up 2 basis point from Thursday when it reached a one-week peak of 3.179 percent. Earlier Friday, the National Association of Realtors said U.S. home resales fell in September for a sixth straight months.