Asian stock markets largely declined Tuesday, pressured by rising oil bills, ongoing Persian Gulf turmoil, and higher global bond yields. Tech shares faltered.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the red, while Shanghai edged higher. Most other regional exchanges finished on the downside.

Brent crude oil futures rose 1.4% to $98.41 a barrel during Asian market hours.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 waffled midday, but traded down 1.7% at the close, as a stronger yen undercut export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1,130.51 to 65,269.33, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 164 to 59.

Machine-tool builder JTEKT declined 8.7%, while furnishings-maker Nitori jumped 5.5%.

In economic news, average cash earnings in Japan rose 4.7% year over year in July, reported the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Bank lending in Japan gained by 5.4% annually in August, reported the Bank of Japan.

The service-sector Economy Watcher's Survey sentiment index struck 46.4 last month, up from 45.7 in July, reported the Cabinet Office.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and could not recover, closing off 0.4% despite strength in property issues.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 95.94 to 25,317.18, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 46 to 45. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 1.6% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.4%.

Computer-maker Lenovo dropped 6.2%, while mining-outfit CMOC gained 7.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,940.55.

In economic news, China exports in August rose 25% on year, while imports climbed by 28.2%, reported the Customs Administration.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.6%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.5%; the Australian ASX 200 dropped 1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.4%, and the Thai Set rose 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.6%.

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index fell 0.8% on the day.