Markets subdued after U.S. data

HONG KONG, Sep 18 (Reuters) Asian stocks were little changed on Monday as worries about slowing U.S. economic growth offset upbeat data showing inflation was in check in Asia's biggest export market.

Japanese financial markets were closed for a public holiday and will reopen on Tuesday.

Data last Friday showed overall U.S. consumer prices as well as costs excluding food and energy both rose 0.2 percent in August, in line with market expectations.

But a separate report revealed an unexpected fall in U.S.

industrial output last month for the first time since January.

Both data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady at Wednesday's policy-setting meeting.

After opening lower, Seoul's key KOSPI edged up 0.15 percent by 0030 GMT as exporters such as market heavyweight Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics both rose more than 1 percent.

But Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index slipped 0.17 percent amid ongoing weakness in the mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

Oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum bounced 1.39 percent thanks to a rebound in U.S. crude to .46 a barrel from a six-month low of .03 on Friday.

Also firmer, Graincorp jumped 3.82 percent after the grains trader and handler lifted its forecast for full-year net profit after tax to A-A million (- million).

Last Friday, U.S. blue chips and the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index both rose about 0.30 percent.

REUTERS PDS VP0813