FTSE 100 futures signal a weaker start to the week, pointing to a 16-point decline at the open to around 9,705, setting a downbeat tone for a Monday already short on optimism.
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Even crypto joined the risk-off mood: Bitcoin dropped 4.7% to $86,215, a reminder of how quickly digital assets can sour sentiment.
Asia offered little relief. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid 1.9% after disappointing corporate investment data, while November’s factory PMI came in at a subdued 48.7.
In China, manufacturing activity contracted for an eighth consecutive month, although Hong Kong’s Hang Seng still managed a 0.8% rise despite weakness in Meituan following its quarterly net loss.
Elsewhere in the region, the Shanghai Composite added 0.4%, South Korea’s Kospi was flat, Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.3%, Taiwan declined 0.5% and India’s Sensex gained 0.3%.
Across Asia, November PMIs broadly disappointed, though Capital Economics’ Shivaan Tandon noted that export trends have strengthened in recent months.
US futures were also under pressure, with the S&P 500 down almost 0.7% and the Dow off 0.4% in early trade. One of the few bright spots came from energy markets, where oil prices rose more than $1 a barrel at the start of the session.
