Global stocks down as US budget duel heats up

Global stock markets fell Wednesday, dragged down by fears that political gridlock in Washington over the federal budget might shut down the U.S. government, according to AP. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.2 percent in early trading to 6,555.87. Germany's DAX dropped 0.1 percent to 8,656.26. France's CAC-40 was marginally lower at 4,192.59. Wall Street also appeared headed for a muted session, with Dow Jones industrial futures flat at 15,283. S&P 500 futures fell 0.1 percent to 1,690.90. Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8 percent to close at 14,620.53. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.5 percent to 1,998.06. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.8 percent to 5,275.90. Though sentiment was far from rally territory, Hong Kong's Hang Seng advanced 0.1 percent to 23,209.63 on the heels of data showing improvement in mainland China's economy, Wong said