LONDON (CNNfn) - Asian markets were in a mixed mood on Tuesday with the focus moving away from oil prices to lingering concerns that chipmakers' profits will fall short of analysts' estimates, following last week's warning from Intel and a third straight decline Monday on the U.S. Nasdaq market.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei average of 225 stocks slipped 64.28 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 15,928.62, with the world's second-largest chipmaker NEC and rival Toshiba leading declines.
 "Ever since the Intel warning, there's been this nagging worry in the market over the outlook for semiconductor shares," said Tatsuhiko Takura, general manager of investment research at Tokio Marine Asset Management.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong dipped 138.1 points, or 0.9 percent, to end the session at 15,290.85, paring the previous session's 5.6 percent gain. Telecom, property and banking stocks were mostly weaker.
South Korea's Kospi index rose 0.5 percent to 587.60, led by banking stocks after the government said Friday it would prop up the tottering financial sector. Cho Hung Bank jumped 1.8 percent, Korea Exchange Bank soared 6.4 percent and Hana Bank rose more than 4 percent.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 25.8 points, or 0.8 percent, to 3,241.1, with banking stocks among the leading gainers. Westpac Bank climbed 1.3 percent and National Australia Bank added 1 percent.
The Straits Times index in Singapore rose 0.8 percent to 1,989.48, with Singapore Airlines climbed 3.1 percent, extending the previous session's advance based on a drop in oil prices in recent days.
In the U.S. Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 39.22 points, or 0.4 percent, to 10,808.15, while the Nasdaq lost 62.54 points, or 1.6 percent, to 3,741.22.
In the currency market Tuesday, the yen firmed slightly to ¥107.37 per U.S. dollar from ¥107.74 in late New York trade.
Concerns about semiconductor stocks in Japan left shares of NEC with a loss of more than 3.3 percent. Rival Toshiba slipped 2.5 percent, and semiconductor equipment maker Tokyo Electron fell more than 5 percent.
Profit estimate slashed
Roland, a maker of electronic keyboards, plunged 17.8 percent after the company cut its group net profit forecast for the year ending next March to ¥1.1 billion ($10.3 million) from ¥3 billion.
Yahoo Japan jumped 8.8 percent after a two-for-one share split, makings shares of the country's leading Internet portal more affordable for individual investors.
Fuji Television Network rose 2.8 percent, Nippon Television Network climbed 3.9 percent and Tokyo Broadcasting System added 3.3 percent. The Japanese financial daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the nation's top three private broadcasters are expected to post record consolidated net profits for the current fiscal year.
 In Hong Kong, Hang Seng index heavyweight China Mobile fell almost 1 percent, but clung onto most of the previous day's 10.2 percent advance.
Internet and telecom company Pacific Century CyberWorks fell almost 7 percent. The Australian newspaper reported that telecom company Telstra was poised to abandon or radically restructure its alliance with Hong Kong-based Pacific Century CyberWorks, as concerns mount about the impact of the PCCW deal on the Australian company's earnings. Telstra rose 3.2 percent in Sydney, bouncing off a 23-month low.
Among Hong Kong banking stocks, Hang Seng Bank slipped 2.4 percent, Dao Heng Bank fell almost 2 percent and Bank of East Asia declined 2.1 percent.
Cheung Kong (Holdings), the territory's largest real estate developer, dipped 1 percent, and second-ranked Sun Hung Kai Properties fell 1.1 percent.
In other markets, Taiwan's Weighted index rose more than 1 percent and Bangkok's composite SET index added 0.3 percent, while Manila's PHS Composite index edged up 0.1 percent.
The JSX index in Jakarta slipped 0.1 percent, and Kuala Lumpur's KLSE composite index was little changed at 735.54. 
--from staff and wire reports
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