UPDATE 1-Germany's Aareal conducts strategic review following calls from investor . German real estate lender Aareal said on Monday it had embarked on a strategic review following calls from an activist investor to consider the sale of its software unit Aareon.

UPDATE 1-U.S. Supreme Court kicks off new term, with Justice Thomas absent . The U.S. Supreme Court kicked off its new nine-month term with a flurry of activity on Monday, hearing arguments in three cases including one involving the insanity defense and rejecting numerous business-related appeals that piled up over the summer.

China's 'Golden Week' consumer spending offers economy rare respite . Spending on retail goods and dining during China's week long National Day holidays returned to growth this year, offering unexpected respite to an economy that has been expanding at its weakest pace in almost three decades.

Trump economic adviser says delisting Chinese companies is off the table . U.S. President Donald Trump's chief economic advisor on Monday said the administration has begun studying U.S. investor protections in China, but that delisting Chinese companies traded on U.S. exchanges 'is not on the table'.

Prague city council moves to axe partnership with Beijing . Prague city council voted on Monday to cancel a partnership agreement with Beijing after it failed to remove an article requiring it commit to the "one China" principle, which refers to China’s stance that Taiwan and it both belong to one China.

UPDATE 1-U.S.-China deputy-level trade talks get underway in tense atmosphere . U.S. and Chinese deputy trade negotiators launched a new round of talks on Monday aimed at resolving the two nations' 15-month trade war, with neither side showing any signs of giving ground.

U.S. Supreme Court kicks off new term, with Justice Thomas absent . The U.S. Supreme Court kicked off its new nine-month term with a flurry of activity on Monday, hearing arguments in three cases and rejecting numerous appeals that piled up over the summer.

UPDATE 2-UK retailers suffer worst September on record, BRC says . British retailers endured their worst September since at least the mid-1990s as people spent money on entertainment instead, according to surveys that painted a muted picture of household demand ahead of Brexit.

Trump to sign trade agreements with Japan trade on Monday -White House . U.S. President Donald Trump will sign two trade agreements with Japan later on Monday, the White House said in a statement.

UPDATE 1-U.S. Supreme Court rejects Amazon warehouse worker wage appeal . The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Amazon.com's bid to avoid a lawsuit seeking to ensure that warehouse workers for the e-commerce giant get paid for the time it takes them to go through extensive post-shift security screenings.