Shares tumbled Tuesday in Asia and U.S. futures also fell ahead of the release of U.S. employment and inflation reports that could drive the direction of interest rates.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 declined 1.2% to 49,544.21 as preliminary factory data showed manufacturing slowing slightly. The S&P Global Flash purchasing managers index rose to 49.7 from 48.5 in November on a scale of up to 100 where 50 marks the cut off for expansion.
