U.S. stock-index were little changed as investors preferred to avoid risks amid rising geopolitical tensions in Syria and North Korea and ahead of the start of first-quarter earnings season later this week.

Stocks:

Nikkei 18,747.87 -50.01 -0.27%

Hang Seng 24,088.46 -173.72 -0.72%

Shanghai 3,288.19 +18.80 +0.58%

FTSE 7,394.59 +45.65 +0.62%

CAC 5,111.48 +4.03 +0.08%

DAX 12,187.70 -12.82 -0.11%

Crude $52.99 (-0.17%)

Gold $1,261.70 (+0.60%)