Good morning traders!

In the US Friday, the Dow rose 111 points to 15,237, the Nasdaq added 31 points at
3,792 and the S&P500 advanced 10 points to 1,703.

In Asia today, markets in Tokyo and Hong Kong are closed for public holidays.

WTI crude oil traded at $102.02 a barrel and Brent crude at $111.28.

Gold settled at $1,268 an ounce.

Happy Monday!

G.

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Europe Factors to Watch-Shares set to dip on U.S. debt impasse

Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:18am BST
PARIS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - European stocks are seen dipping on Monday as the
United States edged closer to a debt default after Democrats and Republicans
failed to reach an agreement over the weekend.

Friday's optimism that a deal could be reached over the weekend disappeared
on Saturday, although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican leader
Mitch McConnell held talks that Reid later called "substantive".

Financial spreadbetters expect Britain's FTSE 100 to open 17 to 20
points lower, or down 0.3 percent, Germany's DAX to open 25 to 27
points lower, or down 0.3 percent, and France's CAC 40 to open 5 to 6
points lower, or down 0.1 percent.

The auto sector will be in the spotlight after sources told Reuters PSA
Peugeot Citroen is preparing a 3 billion euro capital increase in
which Chinese partner Dongfeng and the French government would take matching
stakes.

Japanese markets were closed for a national holiday.

SE Asia Stocks-Most weaker; US budget impasse weighs

Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:08am BST
BANGKOK, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock
markets retreated on Monday as investors locked in quick gains
in recently-rallying shares, wary of the budget impasse in the
U.S. and ahead of a market holiday for most exchanges in the
region.

Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.6 percent,
with shares in commodity firm Noble Group Ltd down 2.5
percent, the top percentage loser on the key index. The stock
gained more than 2 percent last week, among the top performers.

The benchmark rose in early trade after Singapore said its
economy contracted an annualised 1.0 percent in the third
quarter, better than the forecast of a 3.4 percent contraction.


The Thai SET index fell 0.35 percent at the midday
trading break of 0530 GMT, led by utility firm Glow Energy Pcl
, while the Philippine index slid 0.6 percent,
with decliners including Aboitiz Power Corp.

Stocks in Malaysia and Vietnam were both a
tad higher after early falls.

Indonesia is shut on Monday and Tuesday, reopening
on Wednesday. Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines will be
closed on Tuesday, with trading to resume on Wednesday.

Market players were on the defensive in part due to China's
weaker-than-expected export growth in September and worries over
the prospect of the third quarter GDP growth data due this week.


"There is the possibility the Chinese third quarter GDP
later this week could grow below market estimates. The U.S.
situation is even riskier after the upper house did not approve
the extension of the debt ceiling," strategists at broker
Maybank Kim Eng Securiteis wrote in a report.

Shares in broader Asia were weaker, with MSCI's broadest
index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down
0.2 percent, as a possible U.S. debt default edged closer after
the failure of weekend talks in Washington.

Opening Market Overview

EUR Industrial Production m/m 1.0% 0.8% -1.0%

FTSE100 slightly higher at midday, recovering early losses

UK retailers set for best Christmas sales growth since 2007 - report

LONDON | Mon Oct 14, 2013 2:00pm BST
(Reuters) - British retailers are set to enjoy their best growth in Christmas sales since the financial crisis, according to a report published on Monday which forecast consumers would spend at least 2 billion pounds more than in 2012.

Market research specialist Verdict forecast spending in the fourth quarter would rise 2.2 percent from the same period in 2012 to 88.4 billion pounds - the best since 2007 when fourth-quarter spending grew 3.1 percent to 82.4 billion pounds.

Improving consumer confidence and job creation, along with a pick-up in the housing market, were some of the reasons cited by Verdict, which also pointed out that a baby boom during the recession meant consumers now have more children to buy Christmas presents for.

FTSE100 ends modestly higher, shrugging off US debt concerns

Obama hopeful as fiscal meeting nears with top lawmakers

WASHINGTON | Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:26pm BST
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama said lawmakers appear to have made progress on a deal to reopen the government and avert a looming default on Monday as he prepared to meet congressional leaders with a Thursday deadline drawing near.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were due to meet at 3 p.m. (2000 BST) with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, the White House said.