U.S. stock markets had a mixed start to the week as investors braced for a busy schedule of upcoming economic data. The S&P 500 index hovered around 6,810 by late morning in New York, showing little movement. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ 100 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both slipped by about 0.2%, reflecting some investor caution.

In contrast, European markets performed better. The Stoxx Europe 600 rose around 0.8%, showing stronger momentum compared to U.S. stocks. Investors seemed more confident in Europe as they awaited updates from the U.S.

Big technology companies remained under pressure following last week’s losses. Oracle saw its stock drop further, continuing a multi-day decline that has now reached roughly 17%. The sharp fall comes as investors react to the company’s large spending plans on artificial intelligence (AI), which raised concerns about future profitability.

The cryptocurrency market also dragged on investor sentiment. Bitcoin dropped by about 2%, falling to around $86,680. Ether, another major digital coin, slipped nearly 3% to roughly $2,993. These declines in crypto prices signaled reduced risk appetite among traders.

Commodities added to the cautious mood. Oil prices moved lower, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude falling over 1% to about $56.63 per barrel. Gold prices dipped slightly as well, with spot gold trading near $4,294 an ounce. Investors are expecting more volatility ahead as delayed economic reports start to roll in and influence year-end market direction.

In the bond market, Germany’s 10-year yield held steady around 2.85%, while the U.K.’s 10-year yield slipped slightly to 4.49%. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen strengthened slightly, trading near 155.3 against the U.S. dollar.

Overall, markets are in a wait-and-see mode, with traders watching closely for fresh economic signals that could shape global financial trends going into the final months of the year.