Asian shares are mixed as traders brace for a possible US government shutdown

Asian shares are mixed as traders brace for a possible US government shutdown Updated 7 mins ago Asian shares are mixed in narrow trading as investors brace for a possible U.S. government shutdown. Shares rose in China and fell in Australia and South Korea. In Japan, they were little changed. U.S. futures were flat, and oil prices fell. China reported lackluster data on factory activity. The U.S. government is nearing a budget deadline that could result in its shutdown. Past shutdowns have had minimal impact on markets and the economy. But if the stalemate between Democrats and Republicans persists, that could delay the collection and release of economic data. On Monday, Wall Street finished higher as technology stocks recovered.