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Hong Kong - Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday, taking a lead from Wall Street ahead of the start of the corporate reporting season, while Hong Kong enjoyed a third straight rally as a protest that hit the city last week winds down.
The euro dipped, but was holding up after rebounding in New York from a two-year low against the dollar and the yen picked up on profit-taking after Bank of Japan's latest policy meeting.
Tokyo fell 0.67% to 15 783.83 and Sydney slipped 0.16% to 5 284.2, while Seoul added 0.23% to close at 1 972.91.
In the afternoon Hong Kong added 0.47%, a third straight advance as pro-democracy protests that shut parts of the city down last week began to wind down and people returned to work.
READ: Hong Kong protests fade, city resumes work
Shanghai was closed for a public holiday.
Wall Street stocks - which bolted up at the end of last week in response to a surge in US jobs creation - retreated on Monday as firms prepare to report their earnings, with investors worried about the effects of the stronger dollar.
The Dow slipped 0.10%, the S&P 500 eased 0.16% and the Nasdaq lost 0.47%.
The dollar has seen strong buying interest as a series of upbeat US economic data increase the likelihood the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates sooner than initially expected.
But in Tokyo trade on Tuesday it was at ¥108.53 against ¥108.75 in New York, and well down from ¥109.52 in Tokyo earlier on Monday and last week's six-year highs above ¥110.
Euro holds on to gains
The dollar weakness came despite the Bank of Japan sounding a more downbeat view of the economy at the end of a two-day policy meeting, suggesting it could further loosen monetary policy at its next get-together at the end of October. Monetary easing tends to send a currency lower.
The euro, which hit a two-year low against the dollar in Asia on Monday, held up after rallying in New York on bargain-buying.
It bought $1.2631 compared with $1.2655 in US trade, but was much stronger than the $1.2515 on Monday in Asia. The single currency was also at ¥137.16 from ¥137.64.
In Hong Kong, pro-democracy demonstrations - which saw tens of thousands hit the streets last week - were thinning out on Tuesday as workers returned to work.
"Asia (Tuesday) looks to be back to normal trading conditions, with mainland China back online (on Wednesday) after the week-long National Day celebrations," said brokerage IG, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
"The protests in Hong Kong have been peaceful in the most part and have petered out, allowing working conditions to return."
On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery dropped 1 cent to $90.33 while Brent crude for November eased 4c to $92.75 in afternoon trade.
Gold was at $1 206.14 an ounce at 13:25 against $1 196.53 late on Monday.
In other markets:
- Mumbai's Sensex index fell by 1.11% to end at 26 271.97.
- Tata motors was up 0.43% to 504.90 rupees and Hindustan Unilever was down 0.11% at 734.30 rupees.
- Kuala Lumpur slipped 0.4% to end at 1 833.54 points. Land & General fell 4.17% to 0.58 ringgit per share, Petronas Gas lost 2.27% to close at 22.34 ringgit, and Sime Darby edge up 0.22% to stand at 9.10 ringgit.
- Singapore fell 0.28% to 3 243.99. DBS Bank eased 0.27% to close at Sg$18.40 and Singapore Telecom dipped 0.80% to Sg$3.74.
- Jakarta ended up 0.65% at 5032.84. State miner Aneka Tambang jumped 0.49% to 1 025 rupiah, while telecommunications service provider Indosat slipped 0.51% to 3 905 rupiah.
- Bangkok shed 0.24% to close at 1 539.39. Coal producer Banpu was unchanged at 29.25 baht, but PTT dropped 0.81% or 3.00 baht at 367.00 baht.
- Taipei slipped 0.60% to 9 040.81. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing closed 0.79% lower at Tw$125.0 while Hon Hai Precision Industry lost 0.91% to Tw$97.6.
- Wellington fell 0.11% to 5 235.71. Fletcher Building added 0.12% to NZ$8.61 and Chorus was off 1.08% at NZ$1.83.
