Markets are starting the new month looking more positive. That's not hard - last week, they suffered their worst five-day period since February.
U.S. stock futures are edging higher, and most European markets are also up.
Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1. International markets overview
1. International markets overview
European markets are mostly up in early trading. But there's no trading in the U.K. because of a public holiday.
Asian markets ended the session mostly lower.
Japan's Nikkei was the biggest loser in Asia, shedding 3.5%. The Japanese yen has strengthened further against the dollar since the Bank of Japan's decision last week to hold fire on more stimulus measures. A strong yen hurts Japanese exporters.
Markets in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan were also closed Monday.
2. Oil prices retreat from 2016 highs
2. Oil prices retreat from 2016 highs
Oil prices fell on Monday as a monthly increase in production by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries offset declining U.S. output and recent weakness in the dollar, which has underpinned oil prices.
U.S. crude was down 33 cents or 0.72% at $45.59 a barrel at 1007 GMT. Global benchmark Brent fell 49 cents or 0.99% to $46.9.
3. Global manufacturing lower
3. Global manufacturing lower
Manufacturing activity in the euro area ticked higher In April, as German factory growth accelerated to a three month high, but French factory activity slowed to the slowest rate in a year.
The euro zone manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to just 51.7 from March's 51.6, slightly better than an earlier flash estimate of 51.5.
Earlier Monday data showed that Japanese manufacturing activity contracted in April at the fastest rate in more than three years after a severe earthquake in the south of the country disrupted supply chains.
At 10 a.m. ET, the Institute for Supply Management will post its monthly update to the ISM Index, which gauges expansions and contractions in the U.S. economy. A reading below 50 denotes a contraction, and March's 51.8 was the first since last September to be in the expansion zone.
4. Recap of last week
4. Recap of last week
The Nasdaq slumped for the seventh consecutive day on Friday, while the Dow sank to its deepest weekly decline since early February.
Friday's closes: The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.3%, the S&P 500 shed 0.5%, and the Nasdaq dipped 0.6%.
