Japan's Nikkei share average inched lower on Monday, with resource-related sectors, including trading houses, steelmakers and shippers, leading the losses as the US government shutdown hurt risk appetite globally.

The US Senate set a vote for 12 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Monday for advancing a measure that would provide temporary government funding through February 8 and allow thousands of federal employees to return to work.

The Nikkei index fell 0.15 per cent to 23,772.02. There were 98 advancers and 117 decliners. Shippers were the worst performers, falling 1.3 per cent, followed by a 1.2 per cent drop in oil and coal companies and steelmakers. But defensive shares rose, with food companies and pharmaceuticals gaining 0.5 per cent.