British services businesses started 2024 on a robust footing, with a solid inflow of new orders and the fastest hiring in six months, as the prospect of lower interest rates made customers more willing to spend, a survey showed on Monday.

The U.S. services sector growth picked up in January as new orders increased and employment rebounded, but suppliers appeared to fall behind, resulting in a measure of input prices rising to an 11-month high.

China's services activity expanded at a slightly slower pace in January as new orders fell, a private-sector survey showed on Monday, suggesting a soft start for the world's No.2 economy amid tepid demand and a property slump.

Federal Reserve policymakers seeking greater confidence that inflation is on track to their 2% goal may have gotten the opposite on Friday when data showed U.S. job growth surged last month at well above the pre-pandemic pace, and wage growth accelerated.

Oil prices were steady on Monday following sharp falls last week, after Washington pledged to launch further strikes on Iran-backed groups in the Middle East and a strong U.S. job report dampened hopes of swift rate cuts.

The dollar rose to a two-month high against its major peers on Monday as traders clawed back bets for aggressive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.