<h1>Asian markets slipped after weak Chinese investment data and renewed expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike.</h1> Asian markets fell after US tech declines, prompted by China's 2.6% year on year drop in November fixed asset investment and lack of decisive policy shifts; Japan's tankan showed minor improvement but softer forecasts and a prior GDP contraction increased expectations of a 0.25 percentage point BOJ rate hike to 0.75%. Significant declines in major AI and semiconductor stocks weighed on regional indexes, while consumer names and small oil price relief partially offset losses.