Asia pares losses on bargain-buying but inflation fears remain

HONG KONG (AFP): Bargain-buying helped most Asian markets recover some of this week's steep losses, with investors tracking a rally on Wall Street and taking heart from a forecast-beating jobless claims report, though inflation fears continue to cast a dark cloud over trading floors.

Global equities have been convulsed for months by expectations that a blockbuster global recovery will send prices rocketing, forcing central banks -- particularly the Federal Reserve -- to taper the ultra-loose monetary policies that have helped drive a rally for more than a year.