(Jan 8): Stocks in Asia were set for a mixed start Wednesday as the recent escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions kept a lid on sentiment. U.S. equities earlier dipped and the dollar rose, while oil continued its retreat from multi-month highs.

Futures slipped in Japan and Hong Kong, with contracts flat in Australia, after the S&P 500 Index edged lower. The dollar advanced versus the yen, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 1.82% after indicators pointed to a resilient U.S. economy. The Australian dollar tumbled.