The yen pulled ahead and the yuan fell against the dollar on Tuesday as the spread of a pneumonia-like virus in China sparked a sudden bout of risk aversion and sent Asian stocks skidding.

The yuan slipped against the U.S. currency in onshore and offshore trade after a Chinese health expert said the virus can pass from person to person as the fourth death from the illness was confirmed.

The yen edged 0.2% higher to 109.97 per dollar on Tuesday.

In the onshore market, the yuan fell to 6.8973 per dollar, the lowest level in almost a week. In the offshore market, it dropped to 6.9007.

The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies stood at 97.589, near the highest level in a month.

Elsewhere in currencies, the Australian dollar fell 0.15% to $0.6865 as worries about the Chinese virus hurt currencies sensitive to risk.The New Zealand dollar also eased slightly to $0.6607.

Against the dollar, the euro traded at $1.10968. The common currency was also quoted at 85.30 pence.

Source: CNBC