Australian Market

The Australian stock market closed 0.1% lower at 7012.5, losing ground in consecutive sessions for the first time this year. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was weighed by declines in the heavyweight materials and financial sectors, which lost 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively.

Building-materials supplier Boral was the worst-performing stock on the index, shedding 11% on a profit warning and an admission of financial misreporting by former employees. Leading declines by financials, insurer IAG slipped 2.7% amid mounting industry-wide claims from weekend storms in eastern Australia. Gold stocks rose and JB Hi-Fi surged 12% after the home-entertainment retailer posted a nearly 7% increase in 1H profit.

US Market

U.S. stocks rose as investors balanced concern about the deadly coronavirus outbreak against signs of strength in the domestic economy.

The S&P 500 gained 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.7%. Last week, U.S. stocks posted their biggest weekly gains in months, as stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and employment data outweighed fears that the outbreak in China could drag down global economic growth. The jobs report Friday showed
U.S. hiring strengthened in January as more Americans joined the labor market, a positive sign for the economy at the start of 2020.

Commodities

Gold futures climbed to tally a fourth consecutive gain, as investors fretted about the economic impact on China of the fast-moving outbreak of the coronavirus.

Gold for April deliveryon Comex rose $6.10, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,579.50 an ounce, scoring a fourth consecutive gain, with the most-active contract at its highest finish in a week.

Oil Futures

U.S. oil prices ended at their lowest level in 13 months as Russia remained undecided on whether to get on board with an OPEC+ proposal to cut production an additional 600k bpd to offset weakening global demand due to the coronavirus in China and beyond.

Forex

The WSJ Dollar Index, which measures the U.S. currency against a basket of 16 others, rose slightly to around 91.62 from 91.59.

European Markets

The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.3% as strength in the U.S. economy seemed to trump coronavirus concerns. Among European equities, shares in Bank of Ireland Group fell 9.1% after the Irish elections signaled an inconclusive result Sunday, prompting uncertainty about the
formation of a new government. Rival AIB Group fell 5.3%.

Asian Markets

Hong Kong stocks ended the session lower amid sustained profit-taking pressures and concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, following days of gains last week. The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 0.6% to 27241.34. Manufacturers were among the top losers. Clothing maker Shenzhou International shed 4.2%.

Japanese stocks ended lower, weighed by in electronics and pharmaceutical stocks, as caution persisted over the coronavirus outbreak. The Nikkei Stock Average settled 0.6% lower at 23685.98. Electronics maker TDK closed 3.0% lower as did Takeda Pharmaceutical.

Indian shares ended the session lower, as investors turned cautious following weak earnings from several heavyweight stocks. The benchmark Sensex fell 0.4% to 40979.62. Auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra was the top loser on the index, slumping 7.2% after its latest quarterly net profit plunged 85% on year.