British News Agency

According to analysts, the UK’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 0.1% lower, Germany’s DAX index down 0.17%, and France’s CAC index down 0.3%.

This follows a record-breaking previous session in which Europe’s benchmark Stoxx 600 index reached a new intraday high of 588.07 points as investors digested a series of interest rate decisions.

Meanwhile, in the private sector, fast-fashion giant Shein avoided a three-month ban in France after a court ruled in its favor on Friday in a lawsuit against the French government. The court ruled that Shein must implement age verification on its website. The government said it would appeal the decision.

Trading volumes are expected to remain low and movements limited, despite a generally supportive global environment. Sentiment continues to be underpinned by renewed optimism toward artificial intelligence-related stocks, expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will have more room to ease policy next year, and fading expectations of an interest rate hike by the European Central Bank in 2026.

Meanwhile, investors continue to monitor developments in the Ukraine war after a Russian presidential adviser said that revisions made by Europe and Ukraine to U.S. peace proposals do not increase the likelihood of ending the conflict.

European and Ukrainian negotiators made changes to a U.S.-drafted peace agreement that was leaked to the media last month, but a Kremlin policy adviser said on Sunday that “these changes have certainly not improved the document nor increased the chances of achieving long-term peace.” European and Ukrainian leaders feared the draft favored Russia and would force Kyiv to make excessive concessions. The war is now approaching its fourth year.

Asia-Pacific markets began the first trading day of the new week higher as investors assessed the Chinese central bank’s decision to keep loan interest rates unchanged.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.55%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 gained 0.55%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 0.54%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.58%, while the Topix index rose 0.86%. The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.75% last Friday, the highest level in 30 years. South Korea’s Kospi index rose 1.83%, while the small-cap Kosdaq index gained 0.99%.

On the data front, final figures for the UK’s third-quarter GDP will be released later in the day. In pre-market trading, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures fell 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.