Stocks Stalled as Rate Cut Hopes Face Pivotal Week

LONDON—Shares limped lower on Monday in a week packed with a quintet of rich world central bank meetings and data on U.S. inflation that could make or break market hopes for a rapid-fire round of rate cuts early next year. An upbeat U.S. payrolls report has already seen investors scale back expectations for a March cut by the Federal Reserve, though May remains priced at a 76 percent chance. The Fed is considered certain to hold rates at 5.25–5.50 percent this week, putting the focus on the so-called dot plots for rates and Chair Jerome Powell's press conference. The consumer price report for November on Tuesday will also influence…