Ratings agency Fitch said Tuesday it would revise down its India growth forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2016 after the country's shock move to pull most of its currency out of circulation.

Fitch Ratings said the move, aimed at forcing Indians to declare their untaxed money, had created a cash crunch that "seems to be holding back economic activity", with consumers unable to make purchases, supply chains disrupted and farmers unable to buy seeds.

Britain on Wednesday delivers its first budget since the Brexit referendum, with economists expecting a slight shift away from years of austerity as the nation readies its EU exit strategy.

The Conservative government's finance minister Philip Hammond will deliver his so-called Autumn Statement before parliament around 1230 GMT Wednesday -- exactly five months after the Brexit vote.

U.S. stocks were trading higher early Monday at the start of a shortened holiday week, as investors await news on key appointments from the incoming presidential administration.

A half-hour into trading session, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.3 percent higher at 18,922.86. The broader S&P 500 rose 0.5 percent to 2,192.87 and the Nasdaq gained 0.7 percent to 5,359.42.

Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the "cliff-edge scenario" of Britain leaving the EU on Monday, as she announced a boost in research investment.

Facebook on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with hundreds of extra jobs but hinted its success depended on skilled migration after Britain leaves the European Union.

The premier social network underlined London's status as a global technology hub at a British company bosses' summit where Prime Minister Theresa May sought to allay business concerns about Brexit.

Top European stock indices rose at the start of trading on Monday, reversing some of Friday's losses, as Tokyo equities showed gains on the back of a weaker yen.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 climbed 0.1 percent to 10,670.97 compared with Friday's close, while the Paris CAC 40 was also 0.1 percent up at 4,507.82 around 0830 GMT.

From deploying 'cash coolies' to buying Rolex watches, Indians have found unique ways to dodge the government's surprise move to withdraw high value bills in a bid to tackle widespread corruption and tax evasion. 

Britain's first post-Brexit budget will focus on infrastructure and could spell an end to the previous government's rigid fiscal targets, according to a treasury statement released Sunday.

With his shock victory in the race for the White House, President-elect Donald Trump at last is in position to deliver on one of his most strident campaign promises: to repeal Obamacare.

With fellow Republicans in control of the U.S. Congress, Trump has the means and ostensibly a mandate from his party to gut the law. But he may find the reality is more challenging.

Asia-Pacific leaders are expected to send a strong message in defense of free trade Sunday as they wrap up a summit that has been overshadowed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's protectionism.