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Hong Kong - Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday following another heavy sell-off on Wall Street, with technology stocks taking a beating, while a stronger yen added to downward pressure on Japan's Nikkei.
Eyes are also on the Bank of Japan's latest policy meeting after a controversial tax rise took effect at the start of the month.
Tokyo slipped 1.07%, Sydney fell 0.25% and Seoul was 0.22% lower but Hong Kong added 0.13% and Shanghai was 0.42% higher on the first day back after a long weekend.
All three main indices in New York suffered a third straight session of losses on Monday as big-name tech firms, which had helped last year's rally, were sold off on concerns they are overvalued. Among the US losers Monday were Apple, Yahoo, Google and LinkedIn.
Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital in the United States, said there was also "a little anxiety before earnings" season kicks off this week.
On Wall Street the Dow sank 1.02%, the S&P 500 slipped 1.08%t and the tech-rich Nasdaq fell 1.16%.
Asian tech stocks followed their US peers lower, with Sony and Sharp each down more than 2% in Tokyo.
In Seoul Samsung was off 1%, with added downward pressure coming from its forecast of a decline in operating profit for the second straight quarter year-on-year.
The yen edged up against the dollar as traders look for safer bets, while it was given an extra boost by data showing Japan had posted its first current account surplus in five months in February.
The dollar was at ¥102.78 in the morning in Tokyo, against ¥103.09 late in New York.
The euro bought 141.27 yen and $1.3745, compared with 141.65 yen and $1.3740.
Investors are awaiting the end of the Bank of Japan's latest two-day policy meeting later in the day.
While it is expected to stand pat on its stimulus programme, the main focus of attention is on what governor Haruhiko Kuroda has to say about the economy after the 8.0% sales tax came into force on April 1.
"Nobody is realistically expecting the BoJ to announce any more easing measures today, but the nuance within Kuroda's explanation will be key," said SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi Nishi.
On oil markets New York's main contract West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose 48c to $100.92 a barrel in early Asian trade and Brent North Sea crude for May gained 30c to $106.12.
Gold fetched $1 300.10 an ounce at 02:20 GMT, up from $1 300.91 late on Monday.
