Asian stock markets are trading mixed on Tuesday, as investors remained cautious ahead of British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Brexit plans due later in the global day, as well as President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration stateside at the end of the week.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 declined 99.14 points or 0.52 percent to trade at 18,996.10. China's benchmark index, Shanghai Composite lost 11.32 points or 0.36 percent to trade at 3,092.11.  Singapore's Straits Times lost 7.96 points or 0.26 percent to trade at 3,005.16.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 27.95 points or 0.12 percent to trade at 22,746.10. South Korea's KOSPI went up 11.88 points or 0.58 percent to trade at 2,076.05. Taiwan's TAIEX gained 36.08 points or 0.39 percent to trade at 9,328.41.