FTSE100 finished around 19 points lower as investors were cautious on a day, which one analyst described as the "calm before the storm".
FTSE100 finished at 6,356 - or 0.3% lower with financial stocks causing a drag.
The week is one which should keep data heads more than happy with ECB, non farm-payrolls among the stats to look forward to, and these are key pointers for what economic policies might lie ahead giving them even more significance.
Joshua Mahony, at spreadbetter IG Index, said of trading today on Cyber Monday: "Today marked the calm before the storm, as markets meander into a massive week for economic and fundamental announcements.
~Tomorrow not only represents the beginning of the heavyweight economic news, but it is also the first of December; a month which is synonymous with the fabled Santa rally.
"After all, December has represented the best month for stocks over the past three decades, having gained nine out of the last ten years. The question is, with both the ECB and Fed expected to act in December, which one will have the biggest impact upon markets?"
The biggest faller was Aberdeen Asset Management (LON:ADN), down 4.6% to 319.4p while the bank RBS (LON:RBS) also shed 1.4%.
The biggest riser was commodities giant Glencore (LON:GLEN) which added 5.26% to 96.71p.
TalkTalk (LON:TALK) shares shed 1.68% to 240p as German broker Berenberg reportedly downgraded the telecoms group to 'sell' from 'hold' and slashed its price target to 208p from 290p as it cut estimates materially.
Cranswick (LON:CWK) rose 5.71% to 1,797p as the sausage and fresh pork group served up higher half-year revenue and profits.
Oil and gas explorer and producer Oilex (LON:OEX) spurted 3.85% to 0.675p on news that it had appointed an oil production expert to its board.
But zinc recycler Zincox (LON:ZOX) dropped 40% to 0.9p after agreeing to restructure its debts with partner Korea Zinc Company, the first stage of a refinancing that will include raising equity funds.
Vast Resources (LON:VAST) rose 7.46% to 1.225p after a Romanian appeal court confirmed the proposed merger between two of its subsidiaries in the country.
LONDON OPEN
London shares moved lower on Monday after a downturn in Asian markets sparked by Japanese economic data.
The FTSE 100 Index fell 13.77 points to 6361 following a 136-point fall in Japan's Nikkei 225, although the Shanghai Composite pared losses to close slightly up.
Japanese industrial output rose for the second consecutive month and by 1.4% month-on-month, but it was slightly softer than expected.
European stocks tracked weakness in China overnight before a decision from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday as to whether to include the yuan in its basket of global currencies.
Miners took a hit, with Anglo American (LON:AAL) off 14p at 386.15p, Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) down 39p at 2160p and Glencore (LON:GLEN) subsiding 2.08p to 89.8p.
It is a big week for meetings and data with the European Central Bank and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) convening to set, respectively, eurozone interest rates and oil prices. US job data is due at the end of the week.
While most of the data events are not UK-focused, each will have its own unique impact on the mood of the London market.
Having said that, the Bank of England reported that mortgage approvals for house purchases rose modestly last month.
Re-mortgages edged back from a near 7-year high in September and the value of mortgage lending hit its highest level since April 2008
Back in the market, TalkTalk (LON:TALK) was 7.1p, or nearly 3%, lower at 237p as broker Berenberg reportedly downgraded the telecoms group to 'sell' from 'hold' and slashed its price target to 208p from 290p as it cut estimates materially.
Oil and gas explorer and producer Oilex (LON:OEX) spurted 0.02p, or 3.8%, to 0.68p on news that it had appointed an oil production expert to its board.
But zinc recycler Zincox (LON:ZOX) softened 0.05p to 1.45p after agreeing to restructure its debts with partner Korea Zinc Company, the first stage of a refinancing that will include raising equity funds.
MARKET PREVIEW
The FTSE 100 is set to open its account for the week in the red with the blue-chip index taking its cue from Asia.
Overnight Asia’s stocks indexes were depressed, with Shanghai Composite (down 0.4%) still reeling from last week’s regulatory swoop on the market’s short sellers.
“Compounding the fear factor was news that key executives from large domestic brokerages were reported missing, seemingly being hauled up for investigations,” said Bernard Aw, a market analyst for the spread betting firm IG.
The continued selling followed the worst week for Chinese equities since August, when at that point the market feeling the backwash of a major reset.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7%, with energy stocks hardest hit, while Australia’s ASX index (also down 0.7%) felt the brunt of the commodity sector sell down.
Back in the UK, the FTSE 100 is set for a 24 point decline on open to trade at 6,355.15, according to the spread-betting firms.
It is a big week for meetings and data with the European Central Bank and OPEC convening to set, respectively, interest rates and oil prices. Then to end the week we have US jobs data.
While none of them are UK-focused each will have its own unique impact on the mood of the London market.
On the corporate front, there is plenty of scheduled news from the small and mid-tier players. Trading statements from Merlin Entertainment and easyJet provide the pick of the first division players.