"BOJ Meeting and US Inflation Test Weigh on Asia Shares"

Asian stocks slipped as investors await the Bank of Japan's meeting, where policymakers might start laying the groundwork for a shift away from negative interest rates. Meanwhile, a key reading on US inflation is expected to underpin market pricing of interest rate cuts in the US. The slowdown in inflation has led markets to anticipate early and aggressive action from the Federal Reserve, with futures implying a 74% chance of a rate cut as early as March. The dovish outlook for US rates has weakened the dollar, while gold prices remain steady. Oil prices are trying to stabilize after hitting a five-month low last week.