GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks struggle, dlr vulnerable as U.S. impasse
frays nerves  Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:34pm EDT  * Washington still
searching for a way to lift country's debt limit  * Fitch puts
United States on notice, may cut its AAA rating  * Asian stocks
down a touch in cautious trade  * Dollar index steady after fall
from 1-mth high  By Ian Chua  SYDNEY, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Asian
stocks eased, while the dollar nursed losses on Wednesday with
investors still clinging to hopes that Washington will reach an
11th hour deal to avert a default even as a deadline to lift the
government's borrowing limit drew closer.  Adding pressure for a
breakthrough before the Oct. 17 deadline, Fitch Ratings warned
it could cut the United States' prized AAA credit rating.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged
down 0.1 percent, retreating from a five-month closing high.
Australian stocks slipped 0.5 percent in early trade.  "With
just 30 hours to go until the deadline, nerves will be playing
on traders' min