Asian stocks were mostly slipped on Monday as investors awaited the resumption of U.S.-China negotiations in Beijing this week amid low expectations for a major breakthrough.
Sterling was pinned near 27-month lows around $1.2375 amid reports the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson was preparing the ground for a “no-deal” Brexit.
Asian stocks
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.6% in slow trade. Japan’s Nikkei dipped 0.2% and Shanghai blue chips 0.1%.
E-Minis for the S&P 500 dipped 0.1%.
Currency
The dollar hit a two-month peak on a basket of currencies at 98.010, and was trading at 98.023.
The euro was at $1.1125 was just above last week’s two-year trough around $1.1102, while the dollar edged back to 108.62 yen .
Spot gold was steady at $1,418.00 per ounce.
Oil prices drifted down in early trade pressured by the usual concerns about over supply and slowing world demand.