- Chinese stocks weighed on Asian equities on the first trading day of the year, following weaker-than-expected manufacturing statistics and a speech by President Xi Jinping that highlighted the economy's challenges. The price of crude oil increased.
- Hong Kong's benchmark share index fell as much as 1.7%, while mainland and Taiwanese indices also fell. The losses caused a regional equity benchmark to fall for the first time in seven days.
- Chinese factory activity fell to its lowest level in six months in December, according to data released on Sunday, but a private survey of manufacturing issued on Tuesday indicated a modest increase. Slowing activity in the world's second-largest economy also led to a drop in Asian manufacturing.
- Oil rose after Iran despatched a warship to the Red Sea in reaction to the US Navy's destruction of three Houthi boats over the weekend, a move that risks inflaming tensions and undermining Washington's goal of safeguarding a critical trading route.
