Asian markets cautiously up on hopes of short shutdown

HONG KONG: The US dollar treaded water and most Asian stock markets edged up on Wednesday as investors appeared hopeful the first partial US government shutdown in 17 years would be short-lived and not have a broader impact on the economy.

However, one immediate impact is a drop-off in US economic data at a time when the Federal Reserve has already muddied expectations on when will it start reducing its stimulus.