On Monday, the world stock markets drifted as the investors awaited release of a key data for a clearer picture of the strength of the U.S. economic recovery this week. The European stocks recently budged in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 closed less than 2 points higher at 6,258.88. Germany's DAX was down 0.1 % to 7,853.55. France's CAC-40 also slumped about 0.1 % to 3,775.14. The Wall Street appeared headed without drama. The Dow Jones industrial futures climbed less than 0.1 % to 13,818. The S&P 500 futures remained unchanged at 1,495.80.

Meanwhile, the Asian stock markets reported slight gains after strongthe U.S. earnings prompted Wall Street indexes to the multi-year highs on Friday, though Japan's Nikkei slipped amid a profit-taking.

The Nikkei in Tokyo opened higher in early trade but then dipped 0.9 % to finish at 10,824.31 as the investors cashed in shares following the strong gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 0.4 % to 23,671.88. Mainland Chinese shares finished higher, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising 2.4 % to 2,346.51. The smaller Shenzhen Composite Index added 2.5 % to 932.61. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines were also increase.

South Korea's Kospi declined 0.4 % to 1,939.71, it dragged down by Samsung Electronics, the world's No. 1 smartphone maker which down 3.2 %. Steelmaker POSCO dropped 3 %.

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