"Global Markets Brace for Volatility Amid Inflation Concerns and Housing Data"

Asian markets are expected to open under downward pressure due to the sharp rise in U.S. bond yields and the dollar following a hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation report. Japan's Nikkei 225 is on track for its worst week this year, while investors await key economic data from China, Japan, and New Zealand. The Bank of Japan's potential interest rate hike and Chinese house prices for February will be closely watched, as a turnaround in the Chinese property sector is crucial for the broader economy. Despite these pressures, a bullish case could be made for Asian risk assets, with chipmakers and tech stocks potentially receiving a boost from Apple supplier Foxconn's positive revenue outlook.