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MORNING quote EUROPE-Markets in upbeat mood as factories hum

A look at the day ahead in European and worldwide markets from Wayne Cole.

Share markets have started the week in a positive mood, assisted in part by indications of speeding up factory activity throughout Asia where the personal Caixin survey showed China's main factory index hitting a two-year top.

Factory activity broadened for the first time in a year in Japan, and grew at the fastest speed in 2 years in South Korea. South Korean markets got an added fillip from news there might be substantial reserves of oil and gas off the country's coast.

Oil prices pressed higher after OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to extend most of its oil output cuts into 2025, though some cuts will begin to be unwound from October 2024.

Indian markets eyed record highs as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks likely to broaden his alliance's majority in parliament when election outcomes are released on Tuesday, amidst speculation this would spur greater financial reform.

Analysts at BofA were bullish on the outlook, keeping in mind India's. working-age population was not set to peak until 2048 whereas it. has currently peaked in industrialized markets and China.

We expect India to be the second most significant global development. driver for the rest of the decade and it's the only big equity. market beyond the U.S. that's been a constant compounder,. they said.

Over in Mexico, the ruling celebration stated Claudia Sheinbaum. the winner of the presidential election by a large margin. after polls closed on Sunday.

The primary focus of the week will be on interest rates with. the European Central Bank considered nearly particular to cut by a. quarter indicate 3.75% on Thursday, the very first time it would have. eased ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Markets also imply around an 80% opportunity the Bank of Canada. will cut at its conference on Wednesday and 59 basis points of. alleviating this year, though analysts are enthusiastic of reducing being. even deeper.

Secret developments that could influence markets on Monday:

- Last May PMIs for the EU, Germany, France and UK

- U.S. ISM producing index, S&P Global U.S. making PMI, building and construction spending for April

(source: Reuters)