Stocks end session lower with Fed hikes in focus

Stocks end session lower with Fed hikes in focus

Global stocks mostly fell Monday as renewed concerns about harsh coronavirus curbs in China rattled investor sentiment, while oil prices gyrated as Saudi Arabia denied a report that exporters were weighing a production increase. China's first coronavirus deaths in six months sparked fears officials would reimpose strict, economically painful restrictions to fight outbreaks across the world's second-biggest economy. Some of Beijing's largest shopping malls were closed Sunday, while others reduced opening hours or banned table service at restaurants as officials urged residents to avoid non-essential travel. "No one can tell whether (Chinese President) Xi Jinping would pull back from the reopening plans, which would be another disaster for the Chinese stocks, and for the investor confidence," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. Paris, London, Frankfurt and Milan all ended in the red on Monday while Wall Street also lost ground. The fall in European and US stocks came after most Asian markets including Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index and Shanghai ended lower, although Bangkok, Tokyo and Wellington were up. US investors expect subdued trading during the week, which includes the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. This is traditionally a "quiet" stretch for markets. Oil prices plunged more than five