Asia

 China Home Prices Rise In January But At Slower Pace. China home prices have suggested a potential cooling-off in the housing sector at the start of this year. Average new home prices in China's 70 major cities rose 9.6% in January from one year ago, easing from December's 9.9% increase. This is the first slowdown in the rate of price increases in 14 months, since November 2012. Home prices in top-tier cities Beijing and Shanghai also rose in January, but at a slower rate from December. Property purchases remain a popular investment choice in China, and that kept prices rising in 2013. (BBC)

USA

 US Services Growth Slows In February. Growth in the U.S. services sector as well as the pace of hiring slowed in February, an industry report showed on Monday, the latest data to suggest an unusually cold winter is dragging on economic activity. Financial data firm Markit said its "flash" or preliminary services sector purchasing managers index slipped to 52.7 in February from 56.7 in January. A reading above 50 signals expansion in economic activity. Service sector employers continued adding staff, but at the slowest pace in almost a year. At 52.0, down from 54.1 in January, the employment component notched its lowest reading since March 2013. (Reuters)

Europe

 Euro-Area January Consumer Prices Rise More Than First Estimated. Euro-area consumer prices grew more than initially estimated in January, easing pressure on the European Central Bankto take action next month to counter low inflation and spur growth. Consumer prices rose an annual 0.8 % after a similar gain in December, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said today. That exceeds Eurostat’s initial Jan. 31 estimate of 0.7 %. Still, it’s the fourth consecutive reading of less than 1 %. The Frankfurt-based central bank aims to keep inflation at just under 2 %. (Bloomberg)

 German Business Morale Hits 2.5-Year High. German business morale rose in February to its highest level since July 2011 in a sign that growth in Europe's largest economy is likely to accelerate in the first quarter after expanding only modestly last year. The Munich-based Ifo think tank's business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, increased to 111.3, beating the consensus forecast in a Reuters poll for the index to hold steady at 110.6. (Reuters)

Currencies

 Dollar Falls Vs. Pound As Investors Weigh Weather. The U.S. dollar fell against the Australian dollar and British pound Monday as investors continued to weigh the potential weather drag on recent economic data, and wether or not it could sway monetary policy. The ICE dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six rival currencies, fell to 80.212 from 80.269 late Friday. The British pound rose to $1.6656 from $1.6629 late Friday, while the Australian dollar rose to 90.32 U.S. cents from 89.68 U.S. cents. The euro swung intraday, recently trading at $1.3733 versus $1.3737 late Friday. The dollar fell to ¥102.44 from ¥102.62 late Friday. (Market Watch)

Commodities

 Brent Rises On Tight Supply, Spread Supports U.S. Crude. Brent oil rose on Monday after production outages in Libya and South Sudan curbed exports and tightened global supply. Brent crude settled 79 cents higher at $110.64 a barrel, extending gains for a second straight week. U.S. oil was up 62 cents to $102.82, after climbing more than $1 earlier in the session. (Reuters)

 Gold Up 1 Pct At Nearly 4-Month High On Fears Over Ukraine. Gold rose 1 % on Monday, reaching its highest level in nearly four months, as investors grew more anxious about economic and political uncertainty over Ukraine. Spot gold rose 1 % to $1,336.56 an ounce by 4:49 p.m. EST (2149 GMT), having earlier hit $1,338.60, its highest since Oct. 31. Among other metals, silver also hit its highest since Oct. 31 at $22.16 an ounce earlier. It was last up 0.8 % at $21.99 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.8 % to $1,431.40 an ounce, and palladium inched down 25 cents to $738 an ounce. (Reuters)