Asia's stocks drop as deadline for U.S. budget is drawing closer

Asian equities tumbled on Wednesday and were traded not far from the highest level in five months as investors hope for a deal in the U.S. federal debt limit talks between President Barack Obama and House Republicans before deadline on October 17. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index outside Japan fell 0.2%, while Japan's Nikkei also dropped 0.2% and Australian and Honk Kong's shares stayed flat.