Global equity markets eased on Monday on a dip in energy shares and fears a resolution to Greece's financial woes is not in sight, leading the euro to weaken against the dollar.
A cut in Chinese interest rates initially lent support to Asian and some European shares, especially miners, as China is the world's biggest consumer of copper and other metals.
But signs that U.S. shale oil production is recovering sent oil prices lower, causing the energy sector to weigh the most on the S&P 500. U.S. oil drillers added rigs to the Permian Basin in Texas for the first time this year, industry data showed last week.
Friday's strong U.S. jobs report showing the U.S. economy was picking up steam had helped boost Wall Street by more than 1 percent, but that was old news by Monday, as investors again eyed potential implications of a Greek exit from the euro zone.
Greece paid about 750 million euros to the International Monetary Fund a day before it was due, two Greek finance ministry officials told Reuters, but it was not enough to stop worries over future payments.
"The market's focus was distracted away from Greece last week with the U.K. elections and with the (U.S.) payroll data. The second that was out of the way, (investors) jumped on it," said Richard Scalone, co-head of foreign exchange at TJM Brokerage in Chicago.
Greek bond yields edged up as euro zone finance ministers met in Brussels to discuss a cash-for-reforms deal with Athens, which faces the first in a series of large debt repayments this week.
MSCI's all-country world index of stock performance in 46 countries fell 0.31 percent, and key UK, German and French national stock indexes were lower. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index edged up 0.31 percent to close at 1,595.64, lifted by financial stocks.
25 Canada Square, Level 33, office 50, Canary Wharf London, E14 5LQ +44 20 3608 6256
World Financial Markets - 0700 17 600 Varchev Exchange - 0700 115 44
Varchev Finance Ltd is registered in the FCA (FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY) with a passport in the United Kingdom: FCA, United Kingdom - registration number: 494 045, which allows provision of financial services in the United Kingdom.
Varchev Finance Ltd strictly comply with the statutes of the European directive MiFID (Markets in Financial Instruments). targeting increased efficiency, transparency and uniformity of financial instruments.
Varchev Finance Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Supervision Commission - Sofia, Bulgaria: License number RG-03-02-05 / 15.03.2006
The information on this site is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.
Disclaimer:
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 63,41% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.