Asian stock markets closed lower on Tuesday  amid caution ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen’s upcoming congressional testimony, as signs build that the Trump-driven reflation trade is back.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 fell 220.17 points or 1.13 percent to settle at 19,238.98. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 7.97 points or 0.03 percent to end at 23,703.01.

Singapore's Straits Times declined 39.16 points or 1.26 percent to end at 3,072.47. South Korea's KOSPI fell 4.08 points or 0.2 percent to end at 2,074.57.

On the other hand, China's benchmark index, Shanghai Composite gained 1.09 points or 0.03 percent to close at 3,217.93. Taiwan's TAIEX went up 8.46 points or 0.09 percent to end at 9,718.78.