WORLD HEADLINES – European stock markets inched higher on Monday as expectations for a flurry of bumper corporate earnings and merger speculation outweighed fears about the escalating trade conflict between Beijing and Washington.

STOCKS – After Nasdaq reached new highs on Friday, U.S. stock futures traded lower ahead of the Wall Street opening bell.

BONDS – Treasuries traded sideways on the first day of trade for the week.

COMMODITIES – Gold prices recovered from a seven-month low on a weaker dollar. U.S. crude fell 0.76 percent a barrel, pushed lower by easing concerns about supply disruptions and Libyan ports reopening.

CURRENCIES – The dollar and the yen, which tend to outperform when trade war worries flare as investors rush to buy assets perceived to be safer, were down on the day, suggesting investors were not too worried about the Chinese data.

ECONOMIC DATA – U.S. Core Retail Sales m/m due at 8:30, NZD CPI q/q at 18:45, AUD Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes at 21:30 ET.