Euro zone inflation accelerated last month but underlying price growth eased unexpectedly, adding to arguments for a smaller interest rate hike at the European Central Bank's regular policy meeting on Thursday.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Tuesday the downside risks to Asia's economy were smaller than those to other parts of the world, partly due to the region's resilience to U.S. and European banking sector woes.

Japan and South Korea held their first finance leaders' meeting in seven years on Tuesday and agreed to resume regular dialogue as tensions in the wider region and slowing growth prod them to increase co-operation and mend strained relations.

The number of job openings available in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in almost two years in March, as the labor market in the world's largest economy shows signs of cooling in response to rising interest rates.

The Federal Reserve kicks off a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday that is likely to push the U.S. central bank's benchmark overnight interest rate to its highest level in nearly 16 years, hitting a potential plateau that will test the economy in a way not seen since the onset of the financial crisis in 2007.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised Asia's economic forecast on Tuesday as China's recovery underpinned growth, but warned of risks from persistent inflation and global market volatility driven by Western banking-sector woes.