Nikkei
Tokyo stocks ended higher on an up-and-down Tuesday with traders uncertain over concerns about the Middle East crisis and US bond yields.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 0.20 percent, or 62.80 points, to 31,062.35 after spending most of the day in negative territory, while the broader Topix index edged up 0.09 percent, or 1.92 points, to 2,240.73.
Hang Seng
Hong Kong stocks closed down on Tuesday, the start of the week after an extended break, as traders responded to fears around US Treasury yields and the Middle East crisis.
The Hang Seng Index shed 1.05 percent, or 180.60 points, to close at 16,991.53.
Markets in mainland China edged upward, however, with the Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.78 percent, or 22.95 points, to 2,962.24, and the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange adding 1.36 percent, or 24.18 points, to 1,800.90.
Gold
Gold prices fell on Tuesday as the dollar rose while safe-haven buying eased as Israel continues to delay an invasion of the Gaza Strip in its war against Hamas following terror attacks from the Islamist group earlier this month.
Gold for December delivery closed down US$1.70 to US$1,986.10 per ounce.
The drop comes as worries over a widening war in the Middle East ease as Israel delays invading Gaza while Hamas slowly releases hostages taken during its attacks on Israel civilians and foreign nationals on October 7. While defense forces are engaging with Hezbollah militants across the country's border with Lebanon, the war has not spread to other Middle East countries.
A rising dollar is also checking gold. The ICE dollar index was last seen up 0.72 points to 106.2, making gold more expensive for international buyers.
Treasury yields were mixed, with the US two-year note last seen paying 5.101%, up 4.3 basis points, while the yield on the 10-year note was 0.9 basis points to 4.84%.
Oil
Oil futures fell on Tuesday to tally a third straight session decline.
"After initially pricing in a geopolitical risk premium, the market appears to have sold off direct support tied to the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas," said Robbie Fraser, manager, Global Research & Analytics, at Schneider Electric. "While the situation remains in focus, the tangible impact on oil market fundamentals remains minimal."
December West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.75, or nearly 2.1%, to settle at $83.74 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
