"Asia Stocks Sink on China Weakness and Rate Cut Jitters"

Asian equities fell sharply, led by Chinese stocks, as data pointed to a patchy recovery in China's economy, while the dollar was near a one-month high as traders dialed back bets of early interest rate cuts. European stocks were set for a lower open, with investor focus on inflation data from Britain and the euro zone. China's economic data showed uneven growth, deepening property crisis, and tepid retail sales, dampening investor enthusiasm. Geopolitical worries and hawkish central bank rhetoric also sapped market sentiment.