Stocks rose on Monday, shrugging off tepid Chinese economic data, while the dollar weakened before a US Federal Reserve decision on whether to raise interest rates for the first time since 2006 later this week.

Oil prices fell again on falling demand which analysts said could take a further hit if interest rates rise in the world’s biggest economy.

China growth worries

The combination of worries about slowing growth in China and higher US borrowing costs have weighed on markets for weeks, becoming more acute as this week’s Fed meeting has approached.

A Reuters poll on Friday showed a small majority of forecasters still expect a Fed hike on Thursday, though markets-based models suggest policy tightening will be delayed.

Growth in Chinese investment and factory output in August lagged forecasts and, after weak trade and inflation data last week, made it more likely that third-quarter economic growth may dip below 7 per cent for the first time since the financial crisis. Only retail sales beat forecasts.

Shares fell in China and Japan, though MSCI’s main index of Asia-Pacific stocks, excluding Japan, rose 0.5 per cent and European shares followed them higher.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose almost 1 per cent with Britain’s FTSE 100 index up 1.2 per cent.

China’s Shanghai Composite index dropped 2.8 per cent and the CSI 300 index of the biggest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen lost 2 per cent. Tokyo’s Nikkei closed down 1.6 per cent.

The dollar dipped against the yen, falling 0.3 per cent to 120.24 yen but and was steady against the euro at $1.1341.

“If there is an uncertain world, if China is slowing aggressively, then you have a situation where the Fed may well reconsider raising interest rates,’’ said Bank of New York Mellon FX strategist Neil Mellor in London.

“What we’re seeing is a general back-off from the view that the Fed is raising rates.’’

In emerging markets, Turkey’s lira fell to a record low of 3.064 to the dollar.

Crude oil

Oil prices fell nearly 1 per cent on the prospect of dwindling demand, though reduced US drilling, as measured by a rig count, offered some support.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down 44 cents at $47.70 a barrel.

“Both the supply and demand pictures look less favourable over the coming months ... Outside the US, oil fundamentals appear to be slipping seasonally,’’ Morgan Stanley said on Monday.

Broadly stronger stocks weighed on core government debt. German 10-year Bunds, the euro zone benchmark, rose 1 basis point to 0.66 per cent, while US 10-year Treasuries yielded 2.19 per cent, up from 2.18 per cent at Friday’s New York close.

Copper turned lower in London on worries over China and the Fed. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange slipped by 1 percent to $5,316.50 a tonne.

Gold held steady at around $1,107 an ounce.

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