Asian markets on Tuesday witnessed a sedate trading in the early hours of trading. Japan's Nikeei slipped 75.50 points to 10,523.51 (-0.71%), Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 138.27 points at 23,191.48 (-0.59%), Singapore's Straits Times down 5.83 points at 3,212.43(-0.18%), China's Shanghai slipped 19.01 points at 2,266.35 (-0.83%), South Korea's Kospi fell5.36 points at 2,005.89(-0.27).
Earlier, the US Dow Jones skid 50.92 points at 13,384.29 and the Nasdaq ended almost flat at 3,098.81.
The weakness in the equities market attributed to caution ahead of companies fourth-quarter earnings and concern over selling of oil, gold and spending hesitancy among consumers.