Asian Markets Drop As Trades Fret Over US Inflation, Rates Outlook

Another tepid inflation reading will likely put pressure on Chinese officials to do more to boost consumption (Credit: AFP)

Asian markets struggled Thursday after a tepid lead from Wall Street, with investors growing increasingly worried about the outlook for inflation and US interest rates as Donald Trump's second presidency looms.

A report saying the president-elect was considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal cover to impose tariffs on all imported goods added to the sense of uncertainty on trading floors.