US debt talk fears spook Asian shares

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HONG KONG: Asian stocks were mostly lower Thursday as traders remained nervous about talks in Washington aimed a averting a debt default despite President Barack Obama backing a cross-party plan.

However, markets were given some support as the outlook in the eurozone brightened after France and Germany came to an agreement on an aid strategy for indebted Greece.

Hong Kong fell 0.46 percent, Tokyo dropped 0.12 percent by the break and Shanghai lost 0.29 percent while Seoul gave up 0.54 percent and Taipei was flat. Sydney was 0.10 percent higher.

Obama met separately Wednesday with Democrats and Republicans to reach a deficit-cutting deal that would allow the nation's debt limit to be raised before an August 2 deadline.

But the talks ended without news of a breakthrough, leading to concerns that a tentative deal brokered by the bipartisan group of six senators could not be built on to pass through both houses of congress.

Global markets jumped after the president on Tuesday threw his weight behind the plan, which would help the nation avoid what he described as "Armageddon".

As the cut-off date approaches the White House has said it is open to a short-term deal to raise the debt ceiling but only to buy time as part of a broader arrangement to slash the ballooning deficit.

Obama has in the past rejected short-term measures, insisting on raising the $14.3 trillion US debt limit by enough to avoid another politically painful vote before his November 2012 re-election bid.

Unease over the the US talks outweighed news out of Europe that an agreement had been reached between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy over a new Greek bailout.

The deal would be the basis for discussions at a eurozone summit that will take place later Thursday, according to a French delegation source.

The pair had aimed to find a position that would be given the go-ahead by the European Central Bank to save Athens from defaulting and contain the debt crisis that has threatened to spread to Italy and Spain.

However, the lack of detail in the Franco-German plan did provide some with cause for concern.

"The market is now waiting to see what the expected Greek aid package looks like," said Dai Sato, dealer at Mizuho Corporate Bank.

The announcement boosted the euro, which hit $1.4258 in Tokyo morning trade from $1.4212 in New York late Wednesday. The single currency is up about one cent from Wednesday Asian trade.

The European single currency also gained to 112.23 yen from 111.88 yen.

The dollar edged down to 78.72 yen from 78.77 yen.

Tech shares were mixed after US chip giant Intel said second quarter profits were slightly better than expected but warned that PC sales for the full year would be lower than previously forecast.

On oil markets New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for September delivery, rose 28 cents to $98.68 a barrel on its first trading day.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in September edged up nine cents to $118.24.

Gold opened at $1,599.00-$1,600.00 an ounce in Hong Kong, up from Wednesday's finish of $1,591.00-$1,592.00. (AFP)