"Asia markets tumble as global uncertainties weigh on investor sentiment"

Asia-Pacific markets experienced a widespread decline as investors analyzed economic data from the region, including lower-than-expected inflation rates in South Korea and Tokyo. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped to its lowest level since November 2022, while China's CSI 300 index hit a four-year low. The Reserve Bank of Australia maintained its benchmark policy rate, and India's service sector activity expanded at a slower pace than anticipated. Private surveys indicated that Hong Kong's business activity expanded for the first time in four months, and China's services PMI climbed to its highest level since August. Japan's private sector activity contracted for the first time this year, and Tokyo's inflation rate reached its lowest point since July 2022. Additionally, CNBC Pro highlighted stocks to consider before the year-end, and a Wharton professor suggested that the Federal Reserve should acknowledge the possibility of rate cuts in December's meeting. Defensive sectors outperformed in the S&P 500, while mega-cap and AI stocks weighed on the Nasdaq. Oil prices continued to decline despite OPEC+ production cuts.