Investors hit pause as ECB and Brexit risks loom

World stocks faltered at six-month highs and U.S. markets were set to dip on Monday as flashpoints including a crucial Brexit summit and a European Central Bank meeting loomed and investors looked ahead to an earnings season that may be disappointing. Signs of further stimulus from China helped Asian shares touch seven-month highs, but investors’ enthusiasm was fleeting. MSCI’s world equity index inched up 0.1 percent, at six-month highs while European stocks slipped as weak data from Germany and investor caution ahead of a string of political and monetary policy events held the market back. Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq eased 0.1 percent, indicating a weaker start on Wall Street. In a document published on the central government’s website late on Sunday, Beijing said it would step up a policy of targeted cuts to banks’ required reserve ratios to encourage financing for small and medium-sized businesses.