Shares in Asia-Pacific declined on Tuesday following investor jitters overnight on Wall Street over a new coronavirus strain in the U.K
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 plummeted 278.03 points, or 1%, to 26,436.39.
The Japanese yen traded at 103.39 per U.S. dollar, after strengthening from levels above 103.6 against the greenback yesterday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 187.43 points, or 1.6%, to 26,119.25.
Developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic likely continued to weigh on investor sentiment, following the discovery of a new COVID strain in the U.K. that has prompted tighter lockdowns and travel restrictions across Europe.
Australian stocks backtracked as Australia’s retail sales jumped 7% in November as compared with October on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to preliminary figures released by the country’s Bureau of Statistics.
Following that data release, the Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7558, after an earlier high of $0.759.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 slumped 82.07 points, or 1.6%, to 4,964.77
In Korea, the Kospi index dumped 44.97 points, or 1.6%, to 2,733.68
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index slouched 207.5 points, or 1.4%, to 14,177.46.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index doffed 19.2 points, or 0.7%, to 2,827.32.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 234.95 points, or 1.9%, to 12,842.69.
In Australia, the ASX 200 let go of 70.31 points, or 1.1%, to 6,599.57.