Hong Kong, Sept 29 (AFP/APP):Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday but investors struggled to extend a global rally as they weighed a fresh US stimulus proposal from the Democrats while looking ahead to the first presidential debate later in the day. Bargain-buying and upbeat economic news from China provided support Monday but the ever-present spectre of the coronavirus and the reimposition of containment measures in several countries were keeping optimism at bay. A major hindrance to further upside is the lack of movement on Capitol Hill in stimulus talks, with both sides digging in and making the chances of a new package unlikely before the November 3 presidential election. Democrats put forward their latest offer, a $2.2 trillion bill that is more than $1 trillion off lower than their previous plan, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “provides the absolutely needed resources to protect lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy over the coming months”. Pelosi’s spokesman said she had spoken to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday and would talk again in the morning. However, with Republicans offering to go only as high as $1 trillion — and hostilities exacerbated by the row over a replacement for Supreme Court … Continue reading Asian markets mostly up as Biden-Trump debate moves into focus