Economic gloom pressures shares, central banks eyed

LONDON: The looming recession across the euro zone kept European shares and the single currency under pressure on Monday, but moves were capped ahead of a meeting of central bankers at the end of the week which could signal fresh stimulus measures.

The growing hope for more accommodative monetary stance around the world was supporting commodity markets, with gold at a 4-1/2 month high and oil prices up over a $1 a barrel, though supply concerns also supported these gains.