TOKYO — Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell Tuesday following a U.S. national holiday, while most markets in Asia were closed for Lunar New Year holidays.
U.S. futures declined and oil prices were mixed. Prices for gold and silver also fell.
Weak economic data released Monday appeared to be clouding sentiment in Tokyo, and a 5.4% decline for tech giant SoftBank Group also pulled shares lower. The decline follows a big rally after a resounding win for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling party in a Feb. 8 general election.
The Nikkei 225 was down 0.8% in afternoon trading at 56,363.39.
Traders likely were locking in profits from the recent gains that took the Nikkei to record levels. Polls show Takaichi's popularity is slowly slipping, as hopes for economic revival from her plans to increase government spending and cut taxes subside.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.2% to 8,958.90, while India's Sensex edged 0.4% higher. In Thailand, the SET was up 0.5%.
European shares ended mixed on Monday and trading in the U.S. was closed for Presidents Day. U.S. markets are set to reopen Tuesday.
On Friday, the S&P 500 edged up less than 0.1% a day after one of its worst losses since Thanksgiving. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%.
