Shares cautious in Asia as US government faces shutdown risk

By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Share markets got off to a cautious start in Asia on Monday as investors braced for a possible shutdown of the U.S. government, which would in turn delay publication of the September payrolls report and a raft of other key data.

President Donald Trump will meet with the top Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress later on Monday to discuss extending government funding. Without a deal a shutdown would begin from Wednesday, which is also when new U.S. tariffs on heavy trucks, pharmaceuticals and other items go into effect.

A protracted closure could leave the Federal Reserve flying blind on the economy when it meets on October 29.

“If the shutdown lasts beyond the Fed meeting, the Fed will rely on private data for its policy decisions,” analysts at B