Asian stocks weaker as US health overhaul failure linger

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Asian stocks got off to a weak start on Monday as caution among investors prevailed with lingering doubts about the future policy agenda of the new U.S. administration following the health care reform failure.

Analysts said House Republicans' failure to repeal Barack Obama's health care law raised questions about the prospect of the Donald Trump's pro-growth agenda from taxes to infrastructure to the budget.

The health care act became a proxy for the rest of the Trump administration, dominating the global stock markets for most of last week.

Beyond the impact on health care, the vote had been seen as a test to the self-proclaimed deal-maker and the new administration's abilities to also deliver other promises, including tax and infrastructure policies.