GLOBAL MARKETS-Global stocks steady at start of busy week, China skips rate cut

LONDON/SYDNEY, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Global stocks held broadly steady on Monday, as U.S. markets closed for a holiday, and Chinese equities fell slightly after the country’s central bank unnerved investors by skipping an expected rate cut. MSCI’s world stock index was slightly lower in European trading. It has fallen around 0.35% so far this year after rallying 20% in 2023. China’s CSI 300 index fell to its lowest since 2019 but finished 0.1% lower as investors digested the central bank’s decision to leave its medium-term policy rate unchanged on Monday, defying expectations for a cut. Despite Monday’s sleepy start, investors are set for a busy week with data on Chinese fourth-quarter growth, UK inflation, and U.S. retail sales all…