On Monday, many Asian stocks experienced gains while investors awaited central bank meetings scheduled for the week ahead. However, Chinese shares saw a decline due to ongoing signs of disinflation in the country. Regional markets took inspiration from Wall Street, where U.S. stock indexes rose on Friday following better-than-anticipated labor market data. This data indicated some strength in the largest global economy, although it also led traders to reduce their expectations of early interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

U.S. Stock futures were flat on Monday. Broader Asian Stocks markets were a tough higher, although concerns over China and caution before a Federal Reserve meeting this week limited gains. While the central bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold, its outlook for 2024 will be closely watched, particularly when it plans to begin trimming rates.

In Asian Stocks, the Chinese stocks plumb over 4-year lows as disinflation persists. China’s blue-chip Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index sank 1.3% to its weakest level since early 2019, while the Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also logged similar declines. In Asian Stocks Data released over the weekend showed that Chinese consumer inflation fell at its fastest pace in three years, in November, while producer inflation sank for a 14th consecutive month.

This year, Chinese stocks were the worst-performing bourses in Asia, amid persistent negative over the economy. Indian stocks set to retreat from record highs Futures for India’s Nifty 50 index pointed to a marginally weak open on Monday, with investors set to lock in more profits after the index hit a series of record highs last week.