Lingering concerns about massive European debt levels and Wall Street's lowest close for three months pressured Asian stocks Tuesday but bargain hunting saw small gains for some markets.
Investors are concerned that fiscal problems in Portugal, Spain and in particular Greece could have a knock-on effect to other nations and destabilise the global economic recovery.
"European officials have been saying they're comfortable that Greece, in particular, will be able to get themselves back on track over a period of time, but the market is just not going to cop that," RBS head of Sydney sales Justin Gallagher said, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
Despite most major European markets all ending in the black Monday, dealers were unimpressed by European leaders' comments at Group of Seven talks in Canada that Greece would be able to manage its 294-billion-euro (412-billion-dollar) public debt.
"While European policy makers are adamant the situation is under control, market participants are still very sceptical," noted NAB Capital strategist John Kyriakopoulos.
The euro firmed to 1.3706 dollars in Tokyo afternoon trade from 1.3648 in New York late Monday, and to 122.50 yen from 121.86. The dollar rose to 89.34 yen from 89.29.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index closed 0.19 percent, or 18.92 points off at 9,932.90, its lowest since the beginning of December.
Toyota rose 2.89 percent to 3,375 yen on bargain hunting after suffering sharp losses over safety problems and despite a report that it would suspend domestic production of its SAI and Lexus HS250h hybrids at the end of the week.
Later Tuesday it announced the recall of 400,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles due to faulty brakes.
The troubled automaker has also recalled eight million other cars around the world due to an accelerator fault.
Sydney's main index fell 0.36 percent, or 16.3 points, to 4,505.1.
Markets followed the lead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which slumped 1.04 percent, or 103.84 points, to end at 9,908.39 on Monday, as a late-day selloff accelerated in the final hour. The index is at its lowest since November 4.
Fears were also sparked by a report indicating the US Federal Reserve was working on its plan to unwind its massive stimulus efforts.
However, dealers moved in to take advantage of the cheap prices following heavy losses on Friday and Monday's falls.
Hong Kong was 0.18 percent up by the break and Shanghai rose 0.14 percent in the afternoon.
Taipei added 2.01 percent, or 145.16 points, to close at 7,361.04, while Seoul ended 1.14 percent, or 17.70 points, higher at 1,570.49.
Singapore added 0.60 percent.
New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, was down seven cents to 71.82 dollars a barrel, while Brent North Sea crude dipped 12 cents to 69.99 dollars a barrel.
Hong Kong gold opened at 1,063.00-1,064.00 US dollars an ounce, down from Monday's close of 1,068.00-1,069.00 dollars.
In other markets:
-- Manila shed 1.72 percent, or 48.99 points, to close at 2,797.61.
Philippine Long Distance Telecom fell 0.6 percent to 2,500 pesos, while Ayala Corp was down 1.9 percent to 260 and Globe Telecom lost 1.6 percent to 950.
-- Wellington finished 0.55 percent, or 17.00 points, lower at 3,076.45.
Telecom shed 0.9 percent to 2.28 New Zealand dollars while construction company Fletcher Building dropped 0.5 percent to 7.46.
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