World Bulletin / News Desk

Asian equities edged up Tuesday as traders took a breather after recent strong gains, with more records on Wall Street unable to spur strong buying, but the dollar built on the previous day's rally.

New York's three main indexes chalked up yet more fresh peaks on Monday thanks to a rally in banks and hopes that Donald Trump can still push through his economic agenda despite a series of setbacks for his legislative programme.

Hong Kong was 0.1 percent up in the afternoon after three days of gains, but Shanghai slipped 0.2 percent with eyes turning to Thursday's release of Chinese economic growth data.

The readings will come a day after the country's leadership starts its twice-a-decade meeting of the Communist Party. President Xi Jinping is set to be handed a second term, while changes to several key party leadership positions  are expected.

Tokyo rose 0.4 percent, an 11th straight gain, to put the Nikkei at a new 21-year high.

Sydney was up 0.7 percent on a bounce in commodity prices, Seoul added 0.2 percent and Singapore lifted 0.3 percent. Manila piled on 1.6 percent but Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta were all lower.

In early European trade London was flat, Paris rose 0.12 percent and Frankfurt dipped 0.1 percent.