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• European markets opened slightly lower Monday morning, after an uncertain Italian election result left the country preparing for the prospect of a hung parliament.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 opened around 0.22 percent lower shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory.

• Asian investors dumped shares and drove to the safety of the yen and gold on Monday amid fears of a global trade war and worries of political uncertainty in Italy, risks that cloud the outlook for world growth.

The specter of a global trade war hit risk appetite, sending MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.8 percent to the lowest since mid-February.

• Japan’s Nikkei share average dropped to a level unseen since mid-October as it fell for a fourth day as fears that a global trade war could break out hurt steelmakers, automakers and shipping companies.

The Nikkei ended 0.7 percent lower at 21,042.09, after the yen got a lift from safe-haven flows as risk sentiment soured on expectations that trading partners will retaliate if U.S. President Donald Trump presses ahead with proposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminium.

• China stocks were little changed on Monday, the first day of the country’s annual meeting of parliament where few surprises are expected.

Investors also expect less volatility as Beijing tends to maintain stability in the markets during such key meetings.

China aims to expand its economy by around 6.5 percent this year, the same as in 2017, while pressing ahead with its campaign to reduce risks in the financial system, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday at the opening of the annual National People’s Congress (NPC).

At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 3.00 points or 0.1 percent at 3,254.53.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC