TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s services sector extended declines in February for a 13th straight month, as business activity was hit by curbs put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to weak demand.

Japan’s motor vehicle sales dropped in February for the first time in five months, in the latest sign of fallout from the global shortage of semiconductors.

HONG KONG/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Asia extended the global rally in stocks on Tuesday as a halt in a recent bond markets sell-off eased investor nerves and lifted riskier assets, although oil prices were on the defensive on fears of slowing Chinese energy consumption.

SEOUL, March 2 (Reuters) - South Korea’s factory activity expanded at its fastest pace in nearly 11 years in February, a private survey showed on Tuesday, as the strongest growth in over a decade in production and new orders drove the recovery in the manufacturing-heavy economy.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar stood firm against its low-yielding peers on Tuesday on bets of a faster economic recovery and greater tolerance of higher U.S. bond yields, while the Australian dollar looked to guidance from the country’s central bank.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday, extending losses that began last week, as investors unwound long positions on concern that OPEC may agree to increase global supply in a meeting this week and Chinese demand may be slipping.