TOKYO: Asian shares rose Tuesday but gains were tepid after Wall Street succumbed to anxiety about Europe's economy.Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average fell 0.2 percent to 9,861.87, with investors taking profits after Monday's jump of almost 2 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained less than 0.1 percent to 4,507.70 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.1 percent to 20,075.11.
Elsewhere, South Korea's Kospi was fractionally higher at 1,691.47 and Singapore's market rose 0.1 percent. Taiwan's benchmark was 0.3 percent higher. Financial markets in mainland China were closed for a holiday.
In New York on Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average erased early gains to end down 0.2 percent at 10,190.89. The S&P 500 index fell 0.2 percent to 1,089.63, while the Nasdaq composite index rose less than 0.1 percent 2,243.96.
Stocks began higher following encouraging industrial production data from Europe. But that wasn't enough to overcome ongoing fears about the continent's problems, especially after Moody's lowered its rating on Greece's debt to "junk" status.
The fallout in Asia was mild, however, with most benchmarks showing little definitive direction ahead of U.S. industrial production numbers due Wednesday.
In Tokyo, insurance names were among the day's losers, with Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. down 1.8 percent. Tech shares were also having a lackluster day. Canon Inc. fell 1.1 percent, and Sony Corp. lost 0.6 percent.
In currencies, the dollar slipped to 91.43 yen from 91.58 yen late Monday in New York. The euro rose to $1.2217 from $1.2210.
Benchmark crude for July delivery was up 10 cents at $76.38 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
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