MUMBAI, India (AP) Asian markets opened weak Monday after heated political rhetoric from the U.S. raised worries that the partial shutdown of the American government could bring the world's largest economy close to defaulting on its debt.
Japan's Nikkei index, the regional heavyweight, slumped by 1.2 percent to 13,861.05.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dipped 0.7 percent to 22,968.36. Losses weren't as steep on South Korea's Kospi, which fell 0.1 percent to 1,995.10.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 1 percent to 5,154.60, but trading volumes were light due public holidays in some parts of the country. Benchmarks in Indonesia, India and Taiwan also fell.
Investor anxiety has risen as the U.S. budget impasse between Republicans and the White House drags on.
On Sunday, Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner ruled out a vote on a straightforward bill to raise the government's borrowing authority without concessions from President Barack Obama before an Oct. 17 deadline, moving closer to the possibility of default.
