Asian markets exhibit mixed trend in early deals on Tuesday

Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in the early deals on Tuesday amid cautious trades, as the record closing highs overnight on Wall Street failed to boost investor sentiment. Meanwhile, crude oil prices eased in early Asian trades after rising overnight. Japan's Nikkei share average edged down as weakness in domestic demand-driven stocks offset gains in cyclicals such as exporters in a relatively quiet holiday-thinned market. Among the other Asian markets, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia are higher. Bucking the trend, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taiwan are in negative territory.

Nikkei 225 dropped 184.45 points or 1.09% to 16,685.11, Hang Seng slipped 5.64 points or 0.02% to 22,926.87, Taiwan Weighted dipped 50.44 points or 0.55% to 9,098.07, and Shanghai Composite was down by 16.24 points or 0.52% to 3,108.95.

On the flip side, Straits Times added 2.50 points or 0.09% to 2,869.71, Jakarta Composite gained 47.25 points or 0.89% to 5,367.81, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI jumped 8.44 points or 0.50% to 1,698.77, and KOSPI Index was up by 1.45 points or 0.07% to 2,051.92.