MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Stock Exchange index fell below the 6,800 level, dragged by Philex Mining.

The main index fell for the second straight day, settling at 6,786.42, down 0.40% or 27.53 points.

Philex Mining slipped 5.23% after news of its stock rights offering. Phoenix Petroleum also plunged nearly 10%, following an overnight share sale.

At the foreign exchange market, the peso closed 7 centavos stronger at P40.62 against the dollar.

Asian markets down

Meanwhile, Asian markets fell on Tuesday as profit-takers moved in to reverse earlier gains, but the dollar extended its recent upward trend against the Japanese yen.

The regional losses came despite another record close for the Dow Jones index on Wall Street, while Shanghai suffered another steep fall after the weekend's disappointing data on the Chinese economy.

Tokyo slipped 0.28 percent, or 34.24 points, to 12,314.81, Seoul lost 0.5 percent, or 10.01 points, to 1,993.34 while Sydney fell 0.56 percent, or 29.0 points, to 5,117.9.

Hong Kong was 0.87 percent lower, shedding 200.22 points to 22,890.60 while Shanghai lost 1.04 percent, or 23.98 points, to 2,286.61.

The losses come after shares enjoyed a broad run-up in recent sessions as the Dow hit an all-time high.

The index continued its rally on Monday thanks to Friday's upbeat jobs numbers that has fuelled optimism over the health of the world's biggest economy.

"Expectations of a US economic recovery are strong," Daisaku Ueno, senior foreign exchange strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley told Dow Jones Newswires. The jobs data "changed the picture for the dollar/yen".

On Monday the Dow closed up 0.35 percent, a seventh straight advance and a fifth consecutive record close.

The broader S&P 500 gained 0.32 percent to sit just nine points below its own all-time closing high set on October 9, 2007. The Nasdaq added 0.26 percent.

On currency markets, the dollar advanced further against the yen, with the Japanese unit facing continued pressure from expectations that the Bank of Japan will further loosen monetary policy.

The dollar was at 96.40 yen in Tokyo trade from 96.26 yen in New York late Monday.

The euro stood at $1.3009 and 125.34 yen, compared with $1.3046 and 125.59 yen in New York.

The yen came under extra pressure after a report in Japan's leading Nikkei economic daily Tuesday suggested the BoJ nominees might launch fresh easing measures before their first policy meeting next month, dealers said.

However, there are concerns over China after data over the weekend added to a number of weak indicators recently suggesting the country's pick-up may not be as strong as hoped.

Beijing said Saturday that inflation hit a 10-month high of 3.2 percent in February while growth in industrial output and retail sales slowed.

Inflation is a key issue for the ruling Communist Party as it raises the chances of popular discontent over climbing prices and the threat of social unrest.

Investors are also worried the government will unveil more tightening measures to temper the rising cost of living.

Oil prices fell, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, easing 32 cents to $91.74 and Brent North Sea crude for April delivery dipping 38 cents at $109.84.

Gold was at $1,582.70 at 1030 GMT compared with $1,578.34 late Monday. - With reports from ANC and Agence France-Presse