Asian markets follow WS drop as inflation fears mount

HONG KONG, China: Asian markets fell on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street fueled by growing inflation concerns and talk that central banks will have to tighten their monetary policies quicker than anticipated.

While recent data and healthy corporate earnings indicate that consumers continue to spend, traders are increasingly fearful that more than a year of massive financial support — coupled with rocketing demand and supply chain snarls — could send prices out of control.