Oil prices hovered near a 4-½ month high in Asian trade on Tuesday as softer exports from Iraq and Saudi Arabia furthered the notion of tighter markets this year, although sentiment remained on edge before a Federal Reserve meeting. 

The yen dwindled near the 150 per dollar level on Tuesday but held its ground ahead of a pivotal policy decision from the Bank of Japan (BOJ), while the U.S. dollar towered over its peers as bets for early rate cuts there were trimmed.

China's fragile housing market opened this year with slower declines in property investment and sales, buoyed by government efforts to arrest a protracted downturn in the sector, official data showed on Monday.

Singapore’s key non-oil exports fell more than expected in February, as a new-year boost in demand now appeared to be running out of steam, while strong figures for January were also revised lower.

Chinese industrial production grew more than expected in the first two months of 2024, as manufacturing output continued to benefit from supportive policies and monetary stimulus from the government.

China's factory output and retail sales beat expectations in the January-February period, marking a solid start for 2024 and offering some relief to policymakers even as weakness in the property sector remains a drag on the economy and confidence.