The yen strengthened against the dollar on Monday as signs the Bank of Japan will exit negative interest rates at its policy meeting next week contrasted with expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut rates in June.

Japan avoided a recession in the fourth quarter, a revised gross domestic product reading showed on Monday, aided chiefly by increased company spending on new facilities and equipment.

China still faces structural employment issues and overall pressure on jobs has not eased, the human resources minister said on Saturday, as the slowing economy braces for another record number of college graduates in 2024.

China's consumer prices rose for the first time in six months due to spending linked to the Lunar New Year, offering some reprieve for the world's second-biggest economy grappling with weak consumer sentiment, while factory-gate prices fell again.

U.S. job growth accelerated in February, but a rise in the unemployment rate and moderation in wage gains kept on the table an anticipated interest rate cut in June from the Federal Reserve.

The U.S. economy added more jobs than expected last month, but December and January's figures were revised sharply lower, pointing to a solid but easing labor market picture that could impact how the Federal Reserve approaches potential interest rate cuts this year.