Asian Markets Mixed on China Growth Concerns and Diverging Central Bank Outlooks
• Chinese stocks fall as Q4 GDP growth comes in slightly below expectations at 5.2% amid weak consumer spending and property sector woes
• Asian tech stocks plunge after Fed official downplays chances of early rate cuts, dragging indexes in South Korea and Hong Kong down 2-3%
• Nikkei hits 34-year high on expectations Bank of Japan will maintain ultra-loose monetary policy at upcoming meeting
• Australia's ASX and most Southeast Asian indexes drop between 0.2-0.4% amid China growth concerns
• Upbeat outlook for continued loose Japanese monetary policy lifts Nikkei, limiting broader declines