European stocks steady

On Monday European stocks were little changed at the start of a week in which investors will focus on monetary policy cues from central banks around the world.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added less than 0.1 percent at 8:24 a.m. in London, with miners leading gains. The benchmark has climbed in March as traders priced in a potential U.S. interest-rate increase amid hawkish comments by Federal Reserve officials. Banks have outperformed all other industry groups this month as government bond yields rose.

The Fed announces its rate decision on Wednesday, with traders betting a hike is virtually certain. That’s followed by policy updates from central banks in the U.K., Switzerland and Japan.

Asian equities rose as Chinese shares surged in Hong Kong and a positive U.S. jobs report helped investors position for a week of central-bank policy decisions. The dollar weakened and oil slid for a sixth straight day.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index was poised for the biggest jump since November amid easing concern that U.S.China political tensions will weigh on the yuan.

The dollar fell against most major peers. Oil kept sliding below $50 as U.S. drillers continued to boost activity, countering OPEC’s efforts to drain a global glut. Industrial metals climbed for a second day.

Global equities are trading near a record high as indications of firming growth in the U.S. and Europe coincide with China’s economy showing signs of improvement. U.S. jobs data at the end of last week cleared the way for the Fed to raise interest rates on Wednesday without forcing it to accelerate the pace for future tightening. The euro built on gains from Friday, when European Central Bank policy makers were said to have considered their ability to raise rates before a bond-buying program comes to an end.