Asian markets mixed as investors wait for U.S. inflation

Asian stock markets are mixed as investors wait for U.S. inflation data that might influence the Federal Reserve’s decision on when to roll back economic stimulus

BEIJING -- Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday as investors waited for U.S. inflation data that might influence the Federal Reserve's decision on when to roll back economic stimulus.

Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul advanced. Tokyo and Sydney declined.

Wall Street rose for a third day Wednesday as anxiety about the coronavirus's omicron variant eased.

Traders were looking ahead to Friday's report of U.S. consumer inflation in November for indications of whether the Federal Reserve will feel more pressure to cool prices by rolling back stimulus that is boosting stock prices.