British retail sales jumped sharply last month after heavy rain kept shoppers away in April, official figures showed on Friday, in a minor boost for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the July 4 election.

Euro zone business growth slowed sharply this month as demand fell for the first time since February, a survey found, with the bloc's services industry showing some signs of weakening while the downturn in manufacturing took a turn for the worse.

China's fiscal revenue fell 2.8% in the first five months of 2024 from a year earlier, accelerating from a 2.7% decline in the January-April period, official data showed on Monday, as weak demand drags on the economic recovery.

U.S. business activity crept up to a 26-month high in June amid a rebound in employment, but price pressures subsided considerably, offering hope that a recent slowdown in inflation was likely to be sustained.

Most Asian stocks fell on Monday, with Chinese markets leading losses on the prospect of a trade war with the European Union, while anticipation of key U.S. inflation data also kept sentiment on edge. 

Oil prices fell in Asian trade on Monday, remaining under pressure from a stronger dollar as traders awaited more cues on U.S. inflation and interest rates this week.