Chinese steel futures declined on Monday, with rebar leading the declines after falling to a more than 10-day low, as slower-than-expected growth in industrial output and cooling construction activities in the country weighed on prices.
U.S. July retail sales data later on Tuesday could take on added significance after last week's University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment slumped to its lowest in a decade.
Canada's main stock index opened lower on Tuesday, as heavyweight energy shares were weighed down by extended losses in oil prices on global demand concerns.