Asian stock markets experienced a broad decline this week, driven by concerns over the Federal Reserve's potential delay in rate cuts due to persistent inflation and geopolitical uncertainties. The MSCI China Index dropped 1.1% on Friday, marking a 20% decline since October 7, pushing it into bear market territory. The CSI 300 Index of onshore Chinese shares fell 0.9%, while the Shanghai Composite Index declined 1.3% to 3,168.52. This marks back-to-back weekly losses for major Chinese indices. Geopolitical tensions, including fears of increased tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump's administration, further dampened investor sentiment. Japan's Nikkei closed down 0.9% at 39,190.40, and other regional markets, including South Korea's Kospi and Hong Kong's Hang Seng, also posted losses, with the Hang Seng down 0.9%. Analysts highlighted concerns over the Fed's hawkish stance, which could maintain restrictive monetary policy. Additionally, China's December inflation data showed consumer prices rising just 0.1% year-on-year, while producer prices dropped 2.3%, reflecting ongoing economic challenges.