<h1>Asian stocks mixed as Fed cut hopes clash with weak chip data and sticky Tokyo inflation; oil, dollar firm</h1> Asian equity markets traded mixed amid reduced liquidity due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, with sentiment driven largely by expectations of future U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. AI-related and semiconductor stocks in Japan and South Korea declined following weaker industrial and chip production data, while Chinese, Taiwanese, and Indian indices posted marginal gains. Tokyo's core inflation remained above the Bank of Japan's 2 per cent target, reinforcing expectations of a gradual move toward higher rates, though no immediate hike is anticipated. European markets advanced and U.S. indices closed higher before the holiday, while crude oil prices and the U.S. dollar recorded modest gains.