Global stock markets opened on a mixed note on Monday as investors braced for the earnings season. South Korea’s benchmark index fell 2.2%, while Taiwan’s shares slipped 0.5%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares excluding Japan declined 0.3%, while China’s blue-chip index edged up 0.1%.

In the US, S&P 500 futures rose 0.3% and Nasdaq futures gained 0.4%. European markets also pointed to a positive start, with EURO STOXX 50 futures up 0.5%, Germany’s DAX futures gaining 0.6% and FTSE futures rising 0.4%.