Asian shares regained early losses on Tuesday while the US dollar firmed against the Japanese yen. That came as investors watched the U.S. presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and many deemed Clinton the winner.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped just 0.04 percent Tuesday, while the South Korea Kospi and Shanghai composite were flat. The US dollar edged up to 100.74 yen from a low of around 100.08.

The markets say they tend to see Clinton as the candidate of the status quo, while many are uncertain what Trump would mean for U.S. foreign policy and the American economy.