Asian markets stumble as investors ponder fallout of Mideast tension

Asian stocks retreated on Tuesday after Wall Street's stumble overnight, while oil inched up from the previous day losses as lower Libyan oil production assuaged concerns that the severing of ties with Qatar by other Arab states could impede a deal to cut crude output. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.2 percent in early trade, pulling back from a two-year high hit on Monday. Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.4 percent. South Korean markets were closed for a holiday. Financial Astrology Tips

Australian shares tumbled 0.9 percent, while the Australian dollar slipped 0.1 percent to $0.7481, but retained most of Monday's 0.6 percent gain ahead of a Reserve Bank of Australia policy decision later on Tuesday where the benchmark rate is expected to be kept at a record low 1.5 percent. Overnight, the major Wall Street indexes slipped between 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, with Apple Inc leading losses on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain closed transport links with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting extremism and undermining regional stability. Although oil prices initially rose on fears about possible supply disruptions, they ended the day lower. Astrology and Numerology Trading Tips