* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Push for Trump impeachment increases political risk
* Asian stocks track Wall Street lower
* Oil falls on worries about global economy
By Stanley White
TOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Asian stocks fell on Wednesday
after the U.S. lawmakers called for an impeachment inquiry into
President Donald Trump, increasing the prospects of prolonged
political uncertainty in the world's largest economy.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS was down 0.2%, Japan's Nikkei .N225 fell
0.55%, while Australian shares .AXJO fell 0.66%.
The dollar nursed losses against most major currencies as
the impeachment inquiry sets the stage for a fierce battle
between Democrats and Trump's Republican Party over whether the
president sought foreign influence to smear a political rival.
Sterling remained broadly supported in Asia after the UK
Supreme Court ruled Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to
shut down parliament was unlawful, a move that could thwart his
plan to pull Britain out of European Union next month with or
without a deal.
Oil futures declined, reflecting concerns that political
uncertainty and U.S.-China trade friction will weigh on global
economic growth.
"There are a lot of factors out there that could potentially
hurt market sentiment," said Tsutomu Soma, general manager of
fixed income business solutions at SBI Securities in Tokyo.
"However, some hedge funds have to close their books at the
end of the month, so it may be difficult for the market to
move."
U.S. stock futures, ESc1 , rose 0.19% early in Asia on
Wednesday, but the mild gains are unlikely to improve sentiment
for Asian shares.
The push for an impeachment inquiry and disappointing U.S.
economic data weighed on Wall Street on Tuesday, pushing the S&P
500 .SPX 0.84% lower, its biggest daily decline in a month.
The U.S. House of Representatives will launch a formal
impeachment inquiry over whether Trump sought help from the
Ukraine to smear former Vice President Joe Biden, a front-runner
for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Trump has
denied the claims. It is uncertain whether the results of the inquiry will lead
to an impeachment because of Trump's support in the
Republican-controlled Senate.
The dollar index .DXY measuring the greenback against a
basket of six major currencies was little changed after falling
0.3% on Tuesday.
Sterling traded at $1.2485 GBP=D3 , down 0.1%, having
trimmed some of its overnight gains made following the UK court
ruling.
In response to the UK Supreme Court's decision, Johnson said
he disagreed and vowed that Britain would leave the EU by Oct.
31 deadline, come what may.
Calls for Johnson's resignation could grow, which would cast
even more uncertainty over how the UK would complete its divorce
from the EU. U.S. crude futures CLc1 dipped 0.73% to $56.87 a barrel as
Trump sharpened his criticism of China's trade policies in a
speech at the United Nations, dealing a blow to hopes for a
resolution to the U.S.-China trade war.
China is a major consumer of commodities, but the trade war
has caused its economic activity to slow.
The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR
rose to 1.6456%. The two-year yield US2YT=RR also rose to
1.6156% as Treasury prices gave some of their gains posted in
U.S. trading.
(Editing by Sam Holmes)