Europes debt crisis fear pulls Asian stocks down

And the outcome of key Sino-US trade talks, with tensions between the economic superpowers.Tokyo edged down 0.09 percent, Sydney lost 0.73 percent, Seoul was down 1.13 percent while Hong Kong was off almost 2.0 percent. Chinese shares fell into negative territory, trading 0.20 percent lower.Markets also reacted to news Japan logged an unexpected trade deficit in October, while business hub Singapore predicted sharply lower economic growth next year -- and warned a weaker global economy could worsen the situation.“It’s a brand new week but the same old concerns hover over financial markets,” said Tim Waterer, senior foreign exchange dealer at CMC Markets in Sydney.“Debt debacles on both sides of the Atlantic continue to halt any potential uprising of brighter sentiment from traders.” The European Commission will publish legislative proposals for common eurozone bonds on Wednesday in the latest bid to contain the debt crisis, which has threatened to plunge the world economy into recession.New rules would see troubled eurozone states effectively club together to guarantee each other’s debts and police national budgets to keep the region’s fiscal woes in check. The proposals have been designed to combat nearly two years of regional turmoil after bailouts for Greece, Ireland and Portugal, and with even France now facing mounting pressure going into a presidential election year.Governments have been deposed by economic turmoil in several nations, with Spains conservative Popular Party sweeping to victory Sunday in a general election with rising concerns about the countrys ability to finance its debts.International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde warned Sunday that Europe’s economic problems, if not addressed, could spread, leading to “major” consequences for the United States, a key trade and business partner which is already fighting to pull itself out of the economic doldrums.Investors also awaited details of China-US trade talks which started Sunday, with Beijings currency policy -- and claims it undervalues the yuan -- and market access restrictions expected to top the agenda.Japan on Monday posted a 273.8 billion yen ($3.6 billion) trade deficit in October, reversing a year-earlier surplus of 812.6 billion yen and confounding economists expectations.Gold was trading at $1,718.75 an ounce by 0230 GMT, down from $1,720.00 late Friday.