Asian stocks started the week on a downbeat note and the dollar strengthened as investors weighed when the U.S. Federal Reserve would start cutting interest rates after another blowout jobs report. Oil prices fell nearly 2% as tensions eased in the Middle East after Israel withdrew more soldiers from southern Gaza, while gold prices fell 1% after hitting a record high on Friday as U.S. Treasury yields continued to rise. "On the positive side, the resumption of growth suggests the economy is far from recession, but it could also mean the Fed will keep interest rates higher for longer".