Asian markets retreat after data dash hopes imminent US rate cut

BEIJING, 15th March, 2024 (WAM/ AP) -- Asian markets retreated Friday, with Hong Kong’s benchmark falling nearly 2 percent, after a mixed batch of data on the U.S. economy dashed hopes that easier interest rates are coming soon.Oil prices and U.S. futures fell. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 declined 0.3 percen