A man looks at an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, April 25, 2016. Asian stocks fell across the board Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan as well as major earnings reports and economic data from Japan and China expected later in the week. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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LONDON (AP) - Global stocks fell Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan, and a raft of earnings statements from major companies.
KEEPING SCORE: In Europe, France's CAC 40 slipped 0.6 percent to 4,545 while Germany's DAX fell 0.7 percent to 10,298. Britain's FTSE 100 lost 0.7 percent to 6,263. U.S. shares were also set to open lower, with Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures down 0.1 percent.
CENTRAL BANKS: Central bank policy meetings in Japan and the U.S. are the focus of investors' attention this week. Traders will be assessing whether the Japanese central bank enacts a further stimulus and whether the Fed suggests that another rate hike is imminent given the calmer tone in financial markets.
ANALYST TAKE: "We could be in for another rocky week in the markets with particular focus back on the central banks as we get the latest monetary policy decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan, the latter of which is expected to announce new stimulus measures," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA.
EARNINGS: Corporate earnings statements pick up a real head of steam this week. Among this week's notable reports are BP, Fiat Chrysler, Procter & Gamble, Airbus, Amazon and Time Warner. Around a third of the S&P 500 are due to report.
ASIA'S DAY: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dipped 0.8 percent to 17,439.30. South Korea's Kospi inched down 0.1 percent to 2,014.55. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.8 percent to 21,304.44, while the Shanghai Composite dropped 0.4 percent to 2,946.67. Markets were closed in Australia for ANZAC Day, a public holiday.
ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude fell 40 cents to $43.33 a barrel in New York. It lost 55 cents to $43.18 a barrel on Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost 34 cents to $44.77.
CURRENCIES: In currency markets, the euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.1260 while the dollar fell 0.7 percent to 111.05 yen.
FILE - In this Wednesday, March 16, 2016, file photo, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference after the Federal Open Market Committee meeting in Washington. Despite a healthy U.S. job market, with the global economy struggling and U.S. inflation still subpar, many economists see little likelihood of a rate hike even before the second half of the year. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
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People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, April 25, 2016. Asian stocks fell across the board Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan as well as major earnings reports and economic data from Japan and China expected later in the week. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
The Associated Press
A man looks at an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, April 25, 2016. Asian stocks fell across the board Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan as well as major earnings reports and economic data from Japan and China expected later in the week. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)3
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A man is reflected on the electronic board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, April 25, 2016. Asian stocks fell across the board Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan as well as major earnings reports and economic data from Japan and China expected later in the week. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
The Associated Press
A man cycles past an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, April 25, 2016. Asian stocks fell across the board Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan as well as major earnings reports and economic data from Japan and China expected later in the week. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
The Associated Press
A man talks on a mobile phone in front of an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, April 25, 2016. Asian stocks fell across the board Monday ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan as well as major earnings reports and economic data from Japan and China expected later in the week. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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