Asian stock markets mixed amid debt ceiling concerns

Asian stock markets were mixed after worries about the U.S. debt ceiling and two of the three major U.S. indexes posted second straight losses. Asia-Pacific markets were mixed after worries about the U.S. debt ceiling and two of the three major U.S. indexes posted second straight losses, fueled by disappointing economic data. Thailand’s currency strengthened against the dollar as the country’s opposition party advanced to a victory in a general election that ended nearly a decade of rule. The country’s benchmark benchmark Composite briefly traded more than 0.3% at the open on Monday and was last seen trading lower than 0.2%. Thailand’s gross domestic product grew at a more-than-expected 2.7% year-on-year pace. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and South Korea’s Kospi and Kosdaq fell 0.17%, with the latter down 0.52% and 1.61% respectively. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4 percent, while the Topix also rose 0.49 percent on Monday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down marginally, while mainland Chinese markets were mixed. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.82 percent, but the Shenzhen Component Index rose 0.11 percent.