Investing.com - Global stock markets edged lower in low-volume trade on Monday, as falling oil prices weighed on sentiment on the first day of the final trading week of 2015.
Oil prices fell sharply, as last week's strong rally came to a halt. U.S. crude futures were down 83 cents, or 2.17%, at $37.27 a barrel at 6:23AM ET, after rallying 9.7%, last week, the biggest weekly gain since early October.
Internationally traded Brent futures lost 78 cents, or 2.07%, to $37.11. The global benchmark increased 2.74%, last week, snapping a three-week losing streak.
Major Asian equities closed mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei advancing, while shares in China fell the most in a month amid signs officials are worried about capital flight as the economy slows.
Meanwhile, European stocks were mildly lower, as trading volumes were expected to remain thin ahead of the New Year holiday. Markets in the U.K. remained closed for Boxing Day.
Heading into the final week of the year, trading volumes are expected to remain light as many traders already closed books due to the holiday period, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing volatility.
Elsewhere, U.S. stock futures were down between 0.2% and 0.3% after the long Christmas weekend, suggesting a weak open on Wall Street later in the day.
U.S. financial markets closed early on Thursday, Christmas Eve, and remained shut for Christmas Day on Friday.
With a shorter trading week ahead as well due to a holiday for New Year's, the economic calendar is light and trading volume is expected to be muted, which could result in exaggerated moves in equities.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.1% at 97.91 during European morning hours.
The index has fallen back to levels seen before the Federal Reserve raised interest rates on December 17 as investors booked profits on their bullish dollar bets before the end of the year.
The dollar slid against the euro, with EUR/USD gaining 0.15% to 1.0979. Against the yen, the greenback inched up 0.19% to 120.51 (USD/JPY).
With the first U.S. rate hike since 2006 out of the way, the focus is now on the pace of future rate increases. The Federal Reserve, from its forecasts, is anticipating four rate hikes next year.
However, the Fed funds futures currently suggests there will be just two rate increases, one in June and one in December.
Mixed U.S. economic reports released last week failed to offer clues as to how fast the U.S. central bank will raise interest rates next year.
The U.S. is to release key reports on consumer confidence, pending home sales and jobless claims later this week, as market players look for further indications on the strength of the economy and the future path of U.S. rate hikes.
Meanwhile, gold drifted lower in in quiet trade. The precious metal is on track to post an annual decline of 9% in 2015, the third yearly loss in a row, as speculation over the timing of a Fed rate hike dominated market sentiment for most of the year.