China's services activity expanded at the fastest pace in seven months in December, driven by a surge in domestic demand, but orders from abroad declined, reflecting growing trade risks to the economy, a private sector survey showed on Monday.
Millions of Americans from the Plains to the East Coast faced the threat of blizzards, heavy snow, treacherous ice and freezing rain through Monday, the National Weather Service said on Saturday.
Share markets got off to a patchy start in Asia on Monday ahead of a week brimming with economic news that should underline the relative outperformance of the United States and support the dollar's ongoing bull run.
Oil prices rose to a more-than-two-month high in Asian trade on Monday as traders looked to improving demand in top importer China, although strength in the dollar stymied any major gains.
The dollar strayed not too far from a two-year peak on Monday as traders awaited a raft of U.S. economic data releases this week, headlined by December's nonfarm payrolls report, for further clues on the Federal Reserve's rate outlook.
The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a key indicator of the health of the manufacturing sector, has reported a slight contraction in its latest release. The actual number came in at 49.4, reflecting a marginal contraction in the sector.