Asian markets mostly fell Tuesday, with Tokyo declining after a 12-day rally, while in Europe Greece's creditors held impromptu talks aimed at resolving the country's months-long debt crisis.
However, mainland Chinese shares had advanced more than one percent in the afternoon, adding to the previous day's surge and almost erasing a near-seven percent slump over Thursday and Friday.
Tokyo eased 0.13 percent, or 26.68 points, to 20,543.19, ending the Nikkei's best winning streak since a 13-day run in 1988 at the height of Japan's stock market bubble.
Shanghai gained 1.69 percent, or 81.79 points, to 4,910.53 adding to the near-five percent rise Monday.
But Hong Kong shed 0.47 percent, or 130.44 points, to close at 27,466.72 while Sydney plunged 1.73 percent, or 99.4 points, to 5,636.0 and Seoul fell 1.13 percent, or 23.73 points, to 2,078.64.
More upbeat US indicators added to expectations the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates soon, which in turn helped the dollar to 12-year highs against the yen.
Data showing US construction spending picked up strongly in April increased belief the US economy is rebounding after the winter stall, which saw it contract in the first three months of the year.
The Institute for Supply Management, meanwhile, said its measure of US manufacturing activity climbed last month from a near two-year low in April.
The Dow rose 0.16 percent Monday, the S&P 500 gained 0.21 percent and the Nasdaq advanced 0.25 percent.
The dollar was at 124.57 yen in Tokyo Tuesday compared with 124.81 yen late Monday in New York, where at one point it touched 125.05 yen -- its strongest level since December 2002.
The euro bought $1.0952 from $1.0924, and was also at 136.44 yen compared with 136.35. --AFP
