At the open: TSX lower amid tepid Chinese, European data North American stock markets were lacklustre in early trading Monday as indexes stepped back from solid gains last week following data showing the Chinese manufacturing sector expanding but at a sluggish pace. The S&P/TSX composite index declined 10.17 points to 14,603.15 following a 0.5 per cent rise. The Canadian dollar gave back 0.15 of a cent to 88.57 cents (U.S.). New York markets were narrowly mixed after charging ahead last week with the Dow Jones industrials off 11.84 points to 17,378.68 while the S&P 500 index slipped 0.47 of a point at 2,017.58 - both finished at record highs Friday. The Nasdaq was ahead 4.49 points to 4,635.23. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing's purchasing managers" index dropped by 0.3 from September to 50.8. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion. The reading was in line with expectations. The deceleration reflects a slowing of China's economic growth to a five-year low of 7.3 per cent in the third quarter of the year. A similar report into the manufacturing sector of the 18-country euro zone from financial data firm Markit was similarly downbeat. Although the October euro zone index rose to 50.6 from the previous month's 50.3, it's not far off contraction territory. The battered gold sector led advancers, up 0.85 per cent while the December gold bullion contract declined $2.50 to $1,169.10 (U.S.) an ounce. The base metals group was ahead 0.1 per cent as the December copper contract edged up a cent to $3.05 a pound. The December crude oil contract in New York was down 18 cents to $80.36 a barrel and the energy component slipped 0.1 per cent Consumer staples and industrials also weighed on the TSX. It's a busy week shaping up for traders with plenty of economic data and earnings news to digest. They will take in the latest reading on U.S. manufacturing Monday. There is also data on U.S. factory orders and traders will also find out if the European Central Bank plans more stimulus aimed at staving off recession in the euro zone. Canadian data includes manufacturing shipments. And at the end of the week, employment data for the U.S. and Canada will be released. Meanwhile, it's a heavy week for earnings, with reports from heavyweights including Talisman Energy, TransCanada Corp., Enbridge, insurers Sun Life and Great-West Lifeco, Tim Horton's, Air Canada and Canadian Natural Resources. On Monday, Second Cup Ltd. posted a loss of $26.2-million or $2.65 a share in the third quarter as the troubled specialty coffee company booked provisions for cafe closures and the impairment of its asset. On an adjusted basis, Second Cup's operations had a reduced profit of four cents per share - down from 11 cents a share a year ago. Its shares slipped five cents to $3.05.