Markets mixed, analysts see subdued second half year

Markets were mixed on Monday.

Precious metals led commodities higher, with silver in particular surging as much as 7 percent before settling with a 2.9 percent gain.

However, Brent crude slipped 0.5 percent.

In equities, the Shanghai Composite Index jumped 1.9 percent but the STOXX Europe 600 fell 0.7 percent.

The US stock market was closed on Monday having closed on Friday at 2103 and analysts see little further improvement for the rest of the year.

Eighteen equity strategists tracked by research firm Birinyi Associates expect the S&P 500 to finish the year at roughly 2150. That forecast is down from a forecast of 2200 at the beginning of the year.