1. Global markets status

European markets were in red territory on Monday, with top indexes in France and Germany both off more than 0.5%.

Asian markets ended mixed. The Nikkei shed 0.5% after North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into waters off Japan.

Chinese stocks advanced after the government said Sunday that it's targeting growth of "around 6.5% or higher if possible" in 2017.

U.S. markets closed flat on Friday after Fed chair Janet Yellen signaled that an interest rate hike would likely come when Fed leaders meet next week.

The only thing that could change the Fed's plan is weak economic data, giving extra significance to Friday's U.S. jobs report. U.S. stock futures were pointing to a negative open on Monday, but they remain near record highs.

2. GM sells Europe business

General Motors (GM) has reached a deal to sell its money-losing European operations to the French maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars.

Announced early Monday, the agreement will create a new European autos giant, bringing the Opel and Vauxhall brands under the control of France's PSA. GM is also selling its European financial arm to PSA and French bank BNP Paribas.

The combined value of the deals is about $2.3 billion. Shares in PSA were 4% higher in Europe.

3. Earnings and economics

Data on U.S. factory orders will be released at 15:00 GMT, Economists expect an increase of 1%.

Gallup's U.S. Consumer Spending Measure report will also be published Monday.

A series of U.S. companies are set to release earnings - but no market heavyweights are on the schedule.

Deutsche Bank is asking investors for $8.5 billion to help improve its financial health after two years of heavy losses. Germany's biggest bank announced plans for the huge share sale on Sunday along with another overhaul of its strategy.

Deutsche Bank said it will seek to raise about €8 billion in the coming weeks - its fourth capital hike since 2010. The four add up to a total of about €30 billion, more than the bank's current market value. Shares in Deutsche Bank were trading 6% lower following the announcement.

4. The Dollar takes a breather

The dollar slipped in European trading on Monday, as investors took profits after the currency's boost last week on the expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this month.

News earlier in the day of North Korea firing four ballistic missiles, three of which landed in Japanese waters, also pressured the greenback as investors bought into the perceived safe-haven yen.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen on Friday said the U.S. central bank was set to lift its benchmark interest rate this month, provided jobs and inflation data hold up, which markets saw as cementing a hike at the bank's next meeting.

The comments, on the back of a string of hawkish commentary by Federal Reserve officials, saw the dollar slip on Friday as investors took profits from its fourth straight weekly gain against a basket of major currencies (DXY), and it slipped another 0.3 percent on Monday to a one-week low of 101.22.