Futures rise

US stock futures rose ahead of the release of data expected to show an increase in demand for durable goods.

S&P 500 futures rose 0.3 per cent and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.5 per cent. Contracts do not necessarily predict market movements after markets open.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 was up 0.7% in morning trading, with the consumer goods and communications services sectors leading the gains.

Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.9%. Other stock indexes in Europe were also mostly up, with France's CAC 40 up 0.7%, Britain's FTSE 250 adding 0.7% and Germany's DAX up 1.1%.

The Swiss franc fell 0.2% against the US dollar, with $1.08 available to buy for 1 franc. The euro remained unchanged against the dollar, with $1.17 bought for $1. The British pound strengthened by 0.1% against the dollar, at $1.37.

As for commodities, international benchmark Brent crude oil rose 1% to $78.02 a barrel. Gold also rose 0.3% to $1,757.60 per troy ounce.

German 10-year bond yields fell to minus 0.238% and UK 10-year government debt, known as gilts, fell to 0.831%. The yield on 10-year US Treasuries fell to 1.446% on Monday from 1.459% on Friday. Yields are changing inversely to bond prices.

In Asia, indices were mixed, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng up 0.7%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index was little changed after adding 0.5% during the session and China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.8% after rising 0.7% earlier.