Good morning traders!

In the US last night, the Dow fell 128 points to 15,130, the Nasdaq lost 11 points at
3,771 and the S&P500 shed 10 points at 1,682.

In Asia today, the Nikkei was recently up 36 points at 14,492, while the Hang Seng is
closed for a public holiday.

WTI crude oil traded at $102.33 a barrel and Brent crude at $108.37.

Gold settled at $1,326 an ounce.

Good hunting!

G.

Bloomberg Top Headlines

Marketwatch

Global Markets

Asian Markets News

U.S. government shutdown begins after Congress fails to break impasse

WASHINGTON | Tue Oct 1, 2013 5:45am BST
(Reuters) - The U.S. government began a partial shutdown on Tuesday for the first time in 17 years, potentially putting up to 1 million workers on unpaid leave, closing national parks and stalling medical research projects.

Federal agencies were directed to cut back services after lawmakers could not break a political stalemate that sparked new questions about the ability of a deeply divided Congress to perform its most basic functions.

European Factors to Watch-Shares seen edging higher despite U.S. shutdown

Tue Oct 1, 2013 6:40am BST
LONDON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - European shares were seen edging higher on
Tuesday, unfazed for now by a shutdown of the U.S. government that investors
hope will be resolved soon and helped by a positive session in Asia.

The first U.S. government shutdown in 17 years put up to 1 million workers
on unpaid leave from midnight, threatening to hamper an economic recovery that
had been growing in strength.

But analysts in morning notes were optimistic that the two sides would get
back to the table soon, with conservative Republicans facing polls showing they
will be blamed for the shutdown.

"Now that government workers are having their pay cheques stopped and
Washington's incompetence is having real consequences on the man in the street,
it's slightly easier for one side to compromise," Capital Spreads said in a
note.

"So markets are expecting an agreement to be on the horizon soon. However,
the major concern for traders will be if the shutdown continues until Friday and
the Bureau of Labour Statistics has to postpone the main event of the week, the
non-farm payrolls."

Financial spreadbetters predicted Britain's FTSE 100 to open 1 to 4
points higher, or as much as 0.1 percent, Germany's DAX to gain 20 to
26 points, or as much as 0.3 percent, and France's CAC 40 to rise 7 to
10 points, or as much as 0.2 percent.

Nikkei pares early gains on U.S. govt shutdown concerns

Tue Oct 1, 2013 7:35am BST
TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average pared
much of its early rise to close up 0.2 percent on Tuesday,
weighed down by worries about the consequences of a U.S.
government shutdown.

The benchmark Nikkei closed at 14,484.72, after
advancing as much as 1.3 percent to 14,642.97 at one stage as
strong corporate sentiment data reinforced expectations that the
prime minister would go ahead with a fiscal reform plan and
offer stimulus to soften the impact on economy.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to announce details
on the government's fiscal strategy later on Tuesday.

The broader Topix eased 0.1 percent to 1,193.44 in
relatively subdued trade, with 2.79 billion shares changing
hands.

GBP Manufacturing PMI 56.7 57.5 57.2

FTSE100 moves slightly lower in midday trade

USD ISM Manufacturing PMI 56.2 55.3 55.7

USD ISM Manufacturing Prices 56.5 55.2 54.0

End-of-day Market Overview