• The dollar edged higher against a basket of currencies on Monday, moving away from last week's 6-1/2-month lows and shrugging off news of North Korea's latest
missile test as investor attention turned to the Federal Reserve's expected interest rate hike next month.
The dollar index, which tracks the U.S. currency against a basket of six major rivals, inched up 0.1 percent to 97.502 .DXY, holding well above last week's nadir of 96.797,
its lowest since Nov. 9.
• North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile on Monday that landed in the sea off its east coast, the latest in a fast-paced series of missile tests defying world pressure and threats of more sanctions.
• China, battling increased threats from cyber-terrorism and hacking, will adopt from Thursday a controversial law that mandates strict data surveillance and storage for firms working in the country, the official Xinhua news agency said.
• U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the news media and dismissed leaks from the White House as "fake news" on Sunday, following reports his son-in-law tried to set up a secret channel of communications with Moscow before Trump took office.
The Republican president returned to the White House after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe that ended on Saturday to face more questions about alleged
communications between Jared Kushner and Russia's ambassador to Washington.
• Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday condemned North Korea's latest missile launch and vowed action along with other nations to deter Pyongyang's repeated provocations.
Abe said Japan will make utmost efforts to protect its people, while staying in close touch with South Korea and other countries.
• Europe can no longer completely rely on its allies, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday, pointing to bruising meetings of G wealthy nations and NATO last week.7
"I have experienced this in the last few days," she said. "And that is why I can only say that we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands - of course in
friendship with the United States of America, in friendship with Great Britain and as good neighbors wherever that is possible also with other countries, even with Russia."
• The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has called for an investigation into "potentially fraudulent statements and misrepresentations" made by companies
promoting investment in a property development involving the family company of White House advisor Jared Kushner.
• Investors will eye European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's appearance before the European Parliament Economic Committee today. Expectations are rising
that the ECB will signal that its easy policy stance might need to be tweaked if euro-zone data continue to paint a more positive economic outlook.
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