Investing.com - Asian shares were mixed on Tuesday with heightened political risk in Japan shrugged off as North Korea reportedly moved closer to a fresh ballistic missile test.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.17%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 eased 0.08%. Japan's SoftBank has proposed to buy Uber shares at $48 billion, Reuters reported, citing a source. That amount would be a 30% discount to Uber's valuation, Reuters added. SoftBank shares were off 0.26%.
In Greater China, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.45% and the Hang Seng index eased 0.55%.
Overnight, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 22.79 points to close at 23,580.78 points higher, just missing a record close. The S&P 500 fell 0.04% to close at 2,601.42 and the Nasdaq composite, meanwhile, declined 0.15%.
A Japanese diplomat warned on Monday that radio signals detected from the North Korea indicated another North Korean missile test was close, fuelling demand for safe-haven gold.
“There is a possibility of missiles launches in the next few days,” a Japanese government official said on Monday, according to Japan's Kyodo news agency. The potential of fresh missile launches from the Kim Jong-un led nation is believed to be part of the North Korea army’s winter training regime.
As well, New York Fed President William Dudley will speak at 9:15am ET at the New York Fed. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will speak at 10:15am ET at the Philadelphia Fed. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is slated to make remarks at 3:45pm at the New York Fed.
Attention has also shifted back to President Trump’s tax reform plans. Trump will hold a meeting with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to discuss efforts to pass the proposed legislation.