Markets far from merry as stock losses extend into eighth day

(Reuters) - A gauge of stocks worldwide hurtled towards an eighth straight decline on Monday as investors ignored the U.S. Treasury secretary's actions to reinforce confidence in the economy and President Donald Trump criticised the Federal Reserve as "the only problem our economy has."Investors, also facing the likelihood of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown, fled to the relative safety of bonds and gold during the first day of a week of trading shortened by the Christmas holiday, even..