The dollar ascended to a new 12-1/2-year peak against the yen on Tuesday, while Asian shares fell for a second day as the stronger greenback pressured commodity prices. “The rise in the dollar against the yen has been steep but sentiment favors testing new highs rather than consolidating,” said Kyosuke Suzuki, director of forex at Societe Generale in Tokyo. The Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates on hold at a record low of 2.0 percent at its latest policy meeting on Tuesday as expected.