In today’s market report… the U.S. dollar eased against Asian currencies, weighing on regional exporters like Japan's Honda Motor.

The dollar hit a four-week low against the yen, pushing the Nikkei down further from 15-month highs hit last week.

The greenback's dip gave a boost to oil and commodity prices, while supporting regional resource companies like giant BHP Billiton.

South Korea, the world's No.5 oil buyer, says it’s planning over $12 billion in overseas energy deals this year, looking to ensure self-sufficiency.

In acquisition news, Chinese lender ICBC plans to buy a 50 percent stake in Cathay Financial's life insurance unit, which would be the first purchase by a Chinese company of a stake in a Taiwanese finance firm.

The world's largest lender by market value, ICBC, would pay around $59 million to China Eastern Airlines, which owns the stake.

ICBC's chairman is currently visiting Taiwan, and the firm had earlier been in talks for a Cathay stake in a potential $3.4 billion deal.