The economic recovery in China appears to be gaining traction as GDP expanded by a stronger-than-expected 4.5% in the first quarter of 2023, beating forecasts of 4.0%.

Federal Reserve rate hike expectations for the next meeting in May have tightened, despite rising U.S. recession fears.

Cautious optimism is the Monday motivation mantra, as stronger US corporate news and signs of consumer resilience help to mask ongoing worries about the knock-on effect of higher interest rates.

PIA First is reportedly looking to sell the FTSE 100 index, citing key technical factors that suggest a bearish trend for the stock market benchmark.