Markets nervous as Italy faces crucial vote

US and Asian markets were mixed overnight as fears Italy could become the next victim of the eurozone crisis grew.

Wall Street managed to close higher, with the Dow Jones index closing slightly up at 12,068, a 0.71% increase, while the S&P 500 edged up a similar 0.63% to reach 1,261. However, with speculation growing Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi may resign, Asian stock markets were more muted. The Nikkei 225 closed down, shedding 1.27% to 8,655, while the Hong Kong Hang Seng index edged up slightly by 0.25% to 19,727. Asia is expected to gain on expected monthly inflation data from China tomorrow, with price increases expected to moderate reinforcing hopes that the government will loosen its ti...