Asian stocks slumped in early trade as concerns about higher US interest rates and a global trade war prompted investors to sell risk globally.

 Concerns about a Greek bailout, early Italian elections and comments by the European Central Bank chief about the need for continued stimulus all kept the euro under pressure on Tuesday.

Caution prevailed in financial markets ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, even as China's fourth-quarter economic growth beat expectations and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen took a less hawkish policy stance.

 Asian stocks edged higher on Monday, helped by a strong Wall Street, and the dollar stood tall against rivals after the latest U.S. payrolls data indicated strong underlying wage growth, strengthening the case for more rate increases in 2017.

 U.S. Treasury yields eased in Asian trade on Thursday as a week-long surge that followed Donald Trump's shock election win subsided further, helping Asian stocks gain and dragging the dollar off a more than 13-1/2 year peak set overnight.

 The yen advanced against the dollar and Asian stocks languished near the day's lows on Tuesday, after the Bank of Japan held policy steady as expected and offered a bleaker view of the country's economy in the face of lingering anxiety

Asian stocks retreated on Monday after a weekend meeting of G20 policymakers ended with no new coordinated action to spur global growth and as solid U.S. data revived expectation of the Federal Reserve further raising rates before year-end.

 Asian shares glided higher in early trading on Wednesday, taking their cues from overseas gains, although investors are cautiously watching to see whether renewed selling in crude oil futures will dent sentiment.

 Chinese shares were lower on Wednesday as its central bank again devalued the yuan, following Tuesday's record cut.

 Asian stocks are mostly trading lower after the US dollar recouped its losses following the Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday.

 Asian stocks are headed for their fourth day of losses as political protests in Hong Kong show no signs of abating and US consumer confidence unexpectedly fell.