HONG KONG: Asian markets were mostly lower on Tuesday following a weak set of data out of the United States that added to recent concerns about the global economy.

The losses came despite a positive lead from Wall Street, which saw the downbeat US figures as a counterweight to talk that the Federal Reserve will start reeling in its monetary easing.

Tokyo was 0.35 percent lower by the break, Hong Kong fell 0.26 percent, Sydney was down 0.19 percent, Seoul lost 0.19 percent.

In Shanghai shares fell again, losing 0.30 percent, after HSBC released the results of a survey showing manufacturing activity in the world's number two economy shrank in May.

In Washington the Institute for Supply Management's purchasing managers index (PMI) on US manufacturing slumped into negative territory in May, for the first time since November.

Also, the Commerce Department said construction spending in April rose 0.4 percent, less than half of the increase expected.

The news put pressure on the dollar, which had earlier in the day fallen back below the 100 yen level.