Asian Stocks Retreat on Wall Street Weakness, Japan Tumbles 2% on Policy Shift Talk

Asian stocks mostly fell, following a weak lead from Wall Street amid concerns over rising U.S. interest rates and ahead of key inflation data
Japanese shares tumbled over 2%, with reports indicating the Bank of Japan may soon end ultra-loose monetary policies
Gains in Chinese stocks were limited as consumer inflation rose slightly more than expected, but factory activity remains under pressure
Australia's benchmark index fell over 1.5% as profit-taking emerged after record highs last week
South Korea and India stocks also declined from recent peaks, though less sharply than Japan