European stock markets declined, influenced by the Bank of Japan's interest rate hints and geopolitical discussions around a Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Wall Street futures fell, reflecting risk aversion, and traders await Fed Chair Powell's comments. Economic data and geopolitical factors like U.S.-Venezuela tensions affect market sentiment.

Global Markets Grapple with Interest Rate Speculations and Geopolitical Tensions

Monday's trading session saw a decline in European stock markets, with Wall Street futures signaling further downturns.

STOXX 600 slipped 0.6% by 1249 GMT, driven by intensified market risk aversion.
The UK's FTSE 100 and Germany's DAX also declined, with a drop in defense stocks following talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

Traders remain cautious ahead of comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, with Wall Street futures lingering in the red.
Bitcoin plummeted 6.4%, while gold prices surged to its highest peak in six weeks, driven by predictions of U.S. rate reductions.
Geopolitical concerns and U.S.-Venezuela tensions continue to influence oil prices, which saw an increase.
The Japanese yen and government bond yields also saw an uptick following remarks from the Bank of Japan suggesting potential interest rate hikes.

Recent weeks showed recovery in equities, fueled by traders' anticipations of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut in December.
November was marked by volatility for equities, but recent trends suggest a potential turnaround.