Summary On Wall Street Dow fell 1.09 percent, S&P 500 shed 1.26 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1.47 percent.
HONG KONG (AFP) - Asian markets mostly suffered a sell-off on Tuesday after heavy losses on Wall Street fuelled by last week s worse-than-expected US jobs figures.
The yen eased back against the dollar and euro, although that was not enough to prevent a dive on Japan s Nikkei as it reopened after a long weekend.
Tokyo tumbled 3.08 percent, or 489.66 points, to 15,422.40 and Sydney slipped 1.51 percent, or 80.1 points, to 5,212.0 while Seoul fell 0.15 percent, or 2.85 points, to end at 1,946.07.
In the afternoon Hong Kong lost 0.29 percent but Shanghai ended 0.86 percent higher, adding 17.28 points to 2,026.842.
Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta were closed for public holidays.
Friday s report from the Labor Department showing the US economy added just 74,000 jobs in December -- well below the 197,000 expected by analysts -- fuelled concerns about growth going into the new year.
On Wall Street the Dow fell 1.09 percent, the S&P 500 shed 1.26 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1.47 percent.
"The jobs data came in so far below expectations that a sharp knee-jerk market reaction is natural, especially considering how far the dollar has fallen," Monex market analyst Toshiyuki Kanayama told Dow Jones Newswires.
"The selling is unlikely to have a long-lasting effect on market sentiment, but could lead to a more thorough shakeout of what has been a very bullish two-month period."
The result fuelled speculation the Federal Reserve could hold off any further reductions to its stimulus programme at this month s policy meeting, which in turn has pressured the dollar.
In afternoon trade the greenback bought 103.37 yen compared with 102.98 yen in New York Monday afternoon, but was steeply down from 104.93 yen in Tokyo on Friday. The euro was at 141.27 yen from 140.77 yen and also well off the mid-140 yen levels seen last week.
The single currency also fetched $1.3663 against $1.3670 in New York.
In Tokyo, drinks giant Suntory Beverage & Food rose 0.30 percent after its parent Suntory Holdings agreed to buy Beam Inc, the second-largest maker of American whiskey, for $13.6 billion. If the deal is completed, it will create the world s fourth-largest liquor company.
On oil markets New York s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for February delivery, was up 21 cents to $92.01 in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for February rose one cent to $106.76 in volatile trade.
Gold fetched $1,252.80 at 0720 GMT compared with $1,246.29 late Monday.
In other markets:
Taipei fell 0.21 percent, or 18.06 points, to 8,548.14.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. was 0.49 percent higher at Tw$103.5 while Cathay Financial Holdings shed 1.69 percent to Tw$46.6.
Wellington slipped 0.70 percent, or 34.24 points, to 4,865.9.
Fletcher Building was down 0.78 percent at NZ$8.93 and Telecom rose 1.07 percent to NZ$2.35.
