Asia
The region’s stock markets started the new month and the fourth quarter of the year in reasonably upbeat mood, given the recent lack of threats from North Korea and yet another positive session on Friday in the United States equity markets. Japan’s Nikkei and Topix indices closed higher on Friday’s levels, helped by a manufacturing survey showing that business confidence was the highest in 10 years. China’s stock markets will be closed all week for national holidays.
Europe
Global manufacturing surveys released on Monday were also in focus for European investors: the manufacturing PMI for the eurozone came in a touch lower than forecast at 58.1, while Germany’s was as predicted at 60.6. The eurozone unemployment rate for August came in at 9.1%, slightly above expectations, but the same level as the previous month.
In the UK, the FTSE 100 made strong start to the month, helped by listed airlines such as easyJet (EZJ) and BA owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), which gained on news that a budget rival, Monarch Airlines, had collapsed into administration.
Political troubles in Spain, after the weekend saw violent clashes over the Catalonia referendum, took a dent out of the main Ibex index, which was down over 1% at 10.527 approaching midday. The country’s problems also pushed the euro down against the dollar.
Germany’s Dax was resilient in the face of these pressures, particularly as the country’s manufacturing sector remains in robust health relative to other eurozone nations.
North America
The US and Canada also see manufacturing surveys released for September. This week’s economic highlight will be Friday’s non-farm payrolls number, which is expected to show that the country added 77,000 new jobs in the last month. The corporate calendar is light on Monday but big US companies reporting this week include PepsiCo (PEP), Costco (COST) and Monsanto (MON).