Asian stocks slip, rate cut hopes face pivotal week

SYDNEY: Asian shares drifted lower on Monday in a week packed with a quintet of rich world central bank meetings and data on U.S. inflation that could make or break market hopes for an early and rapid-fire round of rate cuts next year.

An upbeat payrolls report has already seen investors scale back expectations for a March cut by the Federal Reserve, though May remains priced at a 76% chance.