The global stock market started out November in a somber fashion on Monday, after economic data released by the United States and China showed that conditions were still weak in October. Despite the results being the best in four months, the data still showed an economy that continues to struggle against a variety of factors, reported Chron News.
Stock futures in the United States fell slightly, indicating a 0.1 percent opening decline for the S&P 500. The decline is attributed to notable losses in Asia after an official gauge of Chinese factory activity came in weaker than projected over the weekend, prompting more doubts about the stability of China's economy.
Despite the relatively dismal opening on Monday however, most global stock indexes actually posted gains last month, prompted by decent quarterly earnings and measures from central banks, according to The Wall Street Journal.
For one, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 8.5 percent, the biggest percentage gain recorded in the last four years. Meanwhile, the Stoxx Europe climbed 8 percent, its most significant gain in more than six years. Finally, Japan's Nikkei rose 9.7 percent, exhibiting a significant gain as well.
James Athey, investment manager at Aberdeen Asset Management in London, believes that what happens next in the global stock market would depend largely on upcoming economic data from key players in the global economy, as well as how the data would impact the Federal Reserve's thinking on monetary policy, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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