European stocks are likely to open lower on Monday, as Chinese economic data disappointed and the mere declaration of intent by Finland and Sweden to join NATO sent tensions in Europe soaring, with Russia threatening 'military-technical' retaliation.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 situation in North Korea remains serious and questionable, given the nation's secrecy policy and its frail healthcare system.
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.