MORNING REPORT(8.00am AEDT)

The euro zone purchasing managers index rose from 46.4 to 46.9 in December. The French index rose from 47.3 to 48.9 and the German index lifted from 47.9 to 48.4. In figures released on Sunday the official Chinese manufacturing index rose from 49.0 to 50.3 in December.

European shares posted strong gains for the first trading session of 2012 with defensive sectors leading the way. On Monday the FTSEurofirst index rose by 1.1pct with the German Dax up 3.0pct with the French CAC40 up 2.0pct. Solid gains were also recorded in Spanish and Portuguese markets.

US sharemarkets were closed for trade on Monday. On Friday US sharemarkets finished trade slightly lower in thin trade with most investors reflecting on the past year. At the close of trade, the Dow Jones was lower by 69 points or 0.6pct. The S&P 500 was down 0.4pct, and the Nasdaq was down 8.6 points or 0.3pct. Over the year the Dow Jones rose by 5.5pct, underpinned by a 31pct gain by McDonalds. The S&P 500 was flat over 2011 and the Nasdaq lost 1.8pct.

US treasury prices rose in a shortened trading session on Friday (yields lower). US 2yr yields fell by 2pts to 0.247pct and US 10yr yields fell by 10pts to 1.876pct. US bond yields closed 2011 close to the lowest levels on record and the government bond market was one of the best performers of asset markets in 2011. The Barclays Capital US treasury index rose by 9.7pct over the year.

The US dollar was mixed against major currencies in thin trade on Monday. The Euro eased from highs near US$1.2960 to around US$1.2920 and was near US$1.2925 in early Australasian trade. The Aussie dollar held between US102.00c to US102.35c, and was around US102.25c in early Australian trade. The Aussie is at fresh 22-year highs against the euro. And the Japanese yen held between 76.87 yen per US dollar and JPY76.99, and is currently near JPY76.87.

World crude oil prices fell on Friday as investors responded to only a modest rise in the HSBC gauge of Chinese manufacturing activity. The official gauge of Chinese manufacturing was released on Sunday and showed a firmer increase from 49.0 to 50.3. On Friday Nymex crude oil fell by US82c to US$98.83 a barrel and London Brent crude fell by US63c to US$107.38 a barrel. The Brent price rose by 13.3pct in 2011.

Base metal prices posted healthy gains on the London Metals Exchange on Friday in an otherwise downbeat year. Metals rose between 0.6-3.0pct on Friday but were generally down around 20pct over 2011. Nickel lifted 3.0pct on Friday with copper up 2.4pct. And the gold price rose for the first time in seven sessions on Friday with the Comex February gold price higher by US$25.90 or 1.7pct to US$1,566.80 an ounce. Over 2011 the gold price rose by 10pct - the smallest gain in three years.

Ahead: In Australia, the Performance of Manufacturing index is released. In the US, the ISM manufacturing gauge and construction spending data are released.