Morning bid: Chinese consumers shut up shop

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. China has kicked off the week with some uninspiring data as retail sales in November rose just 3.0% y/y, when median forecasts had been for +4.6% y/y. House prices also continued to fall, though industrial output did at least hold up. Officials continued to talk of stimulus, including cuts in bank reserve requirements, but