Asian stock markets mixed as traders weigh US data, await jobs

The tepid performance followed a mixed day on Wall Street, where tech firms pared recent gains amid lingering worries about extended valuations and the vast sums pumped into artificial intelligence. Traders were also awaiting key jobs data due later in the day -- and inflation figures at the end of the week -- that could provide a clearer idea about the Federal Reserve's plans ahead of its March policy meeting. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that US retail sales saw no growth in December...