Equities

• Monday, Asian stocks rose as raw-material producers gained after China refrained from raising interest rates
  • The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4% to 133.65 in Tokyo, with about two stocks gaining for each that declined
  • Nikkei 225 rose 0.8% to 10294
• Monday, Chinese stocks increased after the central bank refrained from increasing interest rates and government reports showed the economy is resisting the tightening measures
  • The Shanghai Composite index gained 2.88% to 2923
• US equities increased Friday as President Barack Obama reached a tax- cut agreement with Republicans and after General Electric raised its dividend and consumer confidence beat analysts’ estimates
  • The S&P 500 and DJIA rose 0.6% and 0.35% to 1240 and 11410 respectively
• European stocks gained with Stoxx 600 climbing 1.9% last week as US consumer confidence improved and concerns over the EU debt crisis eased
  • European Union leaders will meet this week (Brussels; 16-17th Dec.) to discuss the creation of a permanent mechanism to help debt troubled countries

Bonds

• Monday, Treasuries declined as economists said a report tomorrow will show retail sales increased in November and as China refrained from raising interest rates
  • The yield on the 10-year note gained five basis points to 3.37% as of 6:51 a.m. in London
• Monday, German 10-year bonds opened lower as Asian stocks gained and risk aversion decreased 
  • The 10-year bund rose five basis points to 3.01% as of 7:03 a.m. in London

Commodities

• Monday, crude oil advanced as China forgone from increasing interest rates boosting prospects for energy demand
  • The January contract rose as much as 67 cents, or 0.8%, to $88.46 a barrel, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange
• Gold was little changed in Asian trading Monday
  • Bullion for immediate delivery rose as much as 0.2% to $1,389.03 an ounce before trading at $1,387.10 at 2:20 p.m. in Singapore