<h1>Asian markets mixed as investors await US inflation data; chipmaker gains, trade tensions, and regulatory scrutiny raise legal risks</h1> Asian markets were mixed as investors awaited a key US inflation metric and reacted to tech-led gains on Wall Street; factory output decline and slower inflation in Tokyo, tariff-driven export pressures, and mixed regional equity performance were noted. A major chipmaker reported stronger-than-expected results but slower sales momentum, prompting volatility in tech stocks. Recent US economic data showing continued GDP growth alongside cooling hiring influenced expectations of an imminent central bank rate cut. Legal risks include potential increased trade and tariff litigation, heightened disclosure and market-manipulation scrutiny amid volatile trading in high-flying stocks, and regulatory attention to inflation-driven policy shifts.