Asian shares struggled to stay positive on Tuesday after downbeat economic data pressured Wall Street ahead of a key U.S. jobs report that could provide important clues to the timing of the Federal Reserve's interest rate increase. Crude oil prices firmed after plunging overnight, with U.S. crude CLc1 adding about 0.7 percent to $45.48 a barrel. Brent LCOc1 gained 0.7 percent to $49.84 after skidding 5 percent to six-month lows. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was slightly lower, while Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 slipped 0.1 percent, after breaking a three-day winning ... (full story)