Japanese shares slip after US govt shutdown

Japanese shares inched lower on Monday as the US government shutdown hurt risk appetite globally.

The US Senate set a vote for 12 pm on Monday for advancing a measure that would provide temporary government funding through Feb. 8 and allow thousands of federal employees to return to work.

The Nikkei index fell 0.15 per cent to 23,772.02. There were 98 advancers and 117 decliners, reports Reuters.

Resource-related sectors including trading houses, steelmakers and shippers were the worst performers.

Shippers fell 1.3 per cent, followed by a 1.2 per cent drop in oil and coal companies and steelmakers.

But defensive shares rose, with food companies and pharmaceuticals gaining 0.5 per cent.