Markets Fluctuate Ahead Of Fed As China Woes Dent Sentiment

Traders are growing increasingly worried about China's economy following another weak reading on retail sales as officials struggle to boost consumer activity (Credit: AFP)

Equity investors trod cautiously Monday as they struggled to build on recent equity gains, with debate swirling around how big an expected US interest rate cut will be this week, while sentiment was being dragged by worries about the Chinese economy.

The yen strengthened to less than 140 to the dollar for the first time since mid-2023 ahead of the Federal Reserve decision on Wednesday -- and a policy meeting at the Bank of Japan two days later -- while gold ticked up to a new record.