DUBAI

Sands China's weak debut in Hong Kong on Monday signals fading investor appetite for a casino company with a high valuation and an uncertain outlook, and cooling interest in what has been a red-hot sector.

Glitzy Dubai may face a debt crisis that has sent a shudder through global markets, but you wouldn't know it from officials or local media.

U.S. fund managers decreased their heavy exposure to stocks in November while increasing their cash allocations ahead of 2009's close and on signs that economic recovery may be slow, a Reuters poll showed on Monday.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday after the Chicago purchasing managers index, a gauge of regional business activity in the U.S. Midwest, expanded more than expected in November.

Dubai's debt woes could further unhinge an already fragile U.S. commercial real estate market, as it illustrates the importance of that tiny emirate to global investors in an increasingly interconnected world.

U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Monday on optimism over holiday retail sales and as concerns eased that a possible debt default by two of Dubai's flagship firms could damage a global economic recovery.

Oil prices recovered a little on Monday, rising above $76 a barrel as the dollar weakened, but investors kept a wary eye on debt-laden Dubai and its impact on the global economy.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Monday as investors assessed whether a possible debt default by two of Dubai's flagship firms could threaten a global economic recovery.

Britain's top share index was 0.8 percent lower by midday on Monday, pulled down by weak energy stocks and banks, as investors were troubled by lingering anxiety caused by Dubai's debt problems.

United Arab Emirates stocks dived on Monday as investors waited for clarity on Dubai's plan to delay repaying billions of dollars in debt and government word on how it would tackle a crisis that has rattled global markets.

stock index futures were slightly higher early on Monday, following the previous session's sharp retreat, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.22 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.13 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.24 percent at 0855 GMT (5:55 a.m. EST).

The coming week should signal whether a year of voracious risk appetite on financial markets is going to end with a bang, a whimper or, quite possibly, a thundering great clunk.

Asian stocks recovered after last week's steep sell-off over the Dubai debt crisis on growing speculation the fallout from a potential default will be limited, while assurances from various authorities also helped calm nerves.

Asian stocks recovered after last week's steep sell-off over the Dubai debt crisis on growing speculation the fallout from a potential default will be limited, while assurances from various authorities also helped calm nerves.

Asian stocks recovered after last week's steep sell-off over the Dubai debt crisis as investors nerves steadied on hopes that the fallout of a potential default will be limited.

United Arab Emirate stocks tumbled 6-7 percent on Monday as the market reopened for the first time since Dubai called for a delay in repaying billions of dollars in debt, spooking global markets.

Hochtief reserves the right to put the planned initial public offering (IPO) of its infrastructure unit on hold should stock markets take a drubbing from the Dubai debt crisis, its chief executive told a Sunday paper.

British budget airline Flybe and five oil companies are planning initial public offerings in London next year which are expected to value them collectively at 1.5 billion pounds ($2.46 billion), the Sunday Times reported.

Sands China's weak debut in Hong Kong on Monday signals fading investor appetite for a casino company with a high valuation and an uncertain outlook, and cooling interest in what was a red-hot sector.

Oil prices steadied at $76 a barrel on Monday, shedding most of the session's early gains, as worries about Dubai's debt crisis and its impact on the world economic recovery returned to haunt investors.

U.S. stocks fell more than 1 percent in a truncated session on Friday as a possible debt default by a Dubai state-owned conglomerate led to fresh concerns about the global financial system.