China's factory activity expanded for the first time in six months in September, an official survey showed on Saturday, adding to a run of indicators suggesting the world's second-largest economy has begun to bottom out.

Underlying U.S. inflation moderated in August, with the annual rise in prices excluding food and energy falling below 4.0% for the first time in more than two years, welcome news for the Federal Reserve as it ponders the monetary policy outlook.

The World Bank has maintained its forecast for China's 2023 economic growth at 5.1%, in line with its previous estimate in April, but trimmed its prediction for 2024 to 4.4% from 4.8%, citing the persistent weakness of its property sector.

Oil prices held steady on Monday after suffering losses at the end of last week, as investors' focus returned to a tight global supply outlook while a last-minute deal that avoided a U.S. government shutdown restored some risk appetite.

The dollar began the last quarter of the year in the ascendant on Monday due to prospects of U.S. interest rates staying higher for longer, and the yen's slide to a near one-year low put traders on watch for intervention by Japanese authorities.

Oil prices moved little in Asian trade on Friday after falling sharply from 2023 highs on some profit taking, although the prospect of tighter supplies still put prices on course for their fourth straight month of gains.