Asian markets mostly rose Friday but gains were limited as US lawmakers struggled to hammer out a fresh economic rescue package, while there was little initial reaction to the last presidential debate before next month’s election. Equities have swung back and forth over the past week as the will-they-won’t-they saga of the stimulus discussions keeps traders on their toes, though observers believe a bill is increasingly unlikely to be passed before the November 3 vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said both parties “continue to be engaged in negotiations, and I am hopeful we will be able to reach an agreement” but she warned that opposition to a massive spending plan from Senate Republicans posed a huge hurdle. “Both sides remain at the stimulus negotiating table as neither benefits from pulling away,” said Axi strategist Stephen Innes. But he said Republicans were “unwilling to compromise on the thorniest issues of financial aid to states and liability protections, and Pelosi is unlikely to hand (Donald) Trump a victory this late in the game. “So, unless a surprise occurs before Friday sundown at the Last Chance Saloon, neither side may be negotiating in good faith.” With talks still grinding along on Capitol Hill, the focus in early Asian trade was the stand-off between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with analysts saying the president needed a big win to overturn his Democratic challenger’s lead in national and crucial state polls. Innes added: “The… debate was less chaotic than the first but offered little new information to inform the result for markets. Meanwhile, discussion relevant to the post-election economic outlook was limited, particularly from President Trump.” Bets on a Biden win and a Democratic sweep of both houses of Congress have risen recently, with the general consensus being that such an outcome would see the passage of an even bigger stimulus than the one of around $2 trillion being discussed now.