European stock markets kicked off the new month higher, as the defense and health-care sectors received a boost from corporate news. Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday as investors assessed China’s RatingDog manufacturing data for August. The metric came in at 50.5, compared to a contraction of 49.5 the month before. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 2.17% to 25,617.42, with gains led by Alibaba Group, which jumped 18.58%, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group which advanced 9.53% and WuXi Biologics which gained 8.37%. Meanwhile, mainland China’s CSI 300 moved up 0.6% in choppy trade to close at 4,523.71. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 pared losses to end the day 1.24% lower at 42,188.79. Meanwhile, Japan’s broader Topix index fell 0.39% to 3,063.19. Over in South Korea, the Kospi index fell 1.35% to end the day at 3,142.93, while the small-cap Kosdaq lost 1.49% to 785. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 benchmark retreated 0.51% to 8,927.70. U.S. markets are closed Monday for the Labor Day public holiday. Oil prices traded in a tight range on Monday as worries about rising output and the impact of U.S. tariffs on demand offset supply disruptions stemming from intensified Russia-Ukraine airstrikes. Brent crude fell 12 cents, or 0.18%, to $67.36 a barrel by 0046 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $63.88 a barrel, down 13 cents, or 0.2%. Trading is expected to be muted due to a U.S. bank holiday. Gold hit a more than four-month high on Monday, as increased bets for a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut this month lifted bullion’s allure, while silver rose above $40 per ounce for the first time in more than a decade. By 0238 GMT, spot gold rose 0.7% to $3,470.69 per ounce, hitting its highest since April 23. U.S. gold futures for December delivery gained 0.8% to $3,543.70. Spot silver rose 1.6% to $40.31 per ounce, the highest since September 2011.