Global shares traded mixed on Monday as investors kept a close eye on economic data and policy moves from U.S. President Donald Trump, which are expected to influence upcoming central bank decisions.
In early trading, France's CAC 40 dipped nearly 0.1% to 8,171.59, while Germany's DAX rose 0.4% to 22,560.00. Britain's FTSE 100 edged up 0.1% to 8,742.97. U.S. markets were closed on Monday for a holiday.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 initially rose after the Cabinet Office reported that the economy grew at a better-than-expected annual rate of 2.8% in October-December, driven by steady exports and moderate consumption. The Nikkei 225 finished up less than 0.1% at 39,174.25.
On a quarter-to-quarter basis, Japan's economy expanded by 0.7%, marking its third consecutive quarter of growth. The country achieved 0.1% growth in seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product last year, marking its fourth consecutive year of expansion.
Elsewhere in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2% to 8,537.10, while South Korea's Kospi surged 0.8% to 2,610.42. Hong Kong's Hang Seng and the Shanghai Composite had mixed performances.
Markets globally are closely monitoring the potential impact of the tariffs announced by President Trump. Analysts believe that negotiations between Washington and other countries could prevent a full-blown global trade war, as the recent tariff announcement will take time to come into full effect.
The Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan aim to maintain inflation at 2% to support economic stability.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude rose to $71.02 a barrel, while Brent crude climbed to $75.08 a barrel. In currency markets, the U.S. dollar weakened against the Japanese yen and the euro.
