India, Aug. 17 -- Global shares moved higher on Monday as investors became less worried about an immediate US interest-rate hike. The move came after a series of weaker-than-expected US economic reports, including an unexpected fall in retail sales. The softer data pushed markets to reduce bets on a Federal Reserve rate hike next month.

Markets now see a much lower chance of a Fed rate hike in September. The probability of a hike next month has fallen to about 30%, down from around 50% a week earlier, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool. European stocks opened higher. The STOXX 600, which tracks 600 major European companies, rose 0.21% on Monday.

Asian markets also gained. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japa...