Asian stocks subdued on yen caution, US inflation in focus

Asian stocks were muted as investors kept watch for possible intervention by Japanese authorities to stop the yen's decline and awaited U.S. inflation data later on Wednesday for clues to future interest rate moves. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.2%, after U.S. stocks ended the previous session with mild gains. Australian shares were up 0.3% in early trade, while Japan's Nikkei stock index was down 0.41%.