Stocks in Asia declined on Tuesday amid fears about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak that continues to spread.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index lost another 127.50 points, or 0.6%, to 23,215.71.
The Japanese yen, often seen as a safe-haven currency in times of economic uncertainty, traded at 109.04 against the U.S. dollar after seeing an earlier high of 108.81.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6760 after touching an earlier low of $0.6744.
Markets in mainland Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan remained closed for Chinese New Year.
Chinese health authorities said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak has killed 106 people and infected 4,515.
Shares of airline stocks in the region dropped on Tuesday. South Korea’s Korean Air Lines plummeted 6.69% while Australia’s Qantas Airways fell 5.2%.
Similar losses were also seen elsewhere in the region, with Singapore’s Singapore Airlines declining nearly 3% and Japan Airlines slipping 0.4%.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index returned to trading with a loss of 69.41 points, or 3.1%, to 2,176.72
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index resumed with a decline of 69.41 points, or 1.8%, to 3,181.25
Australian stocks returned from Australia Day, as the ASX 200 dropped 96.09 points, or 1.4%, to 6,994.46
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 subtracted 122.03 points, or 1%, to 11,685.11
