GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks higher as investors brace for US inflation data

Asian stocks advanced on Tuesday after a tech-led rally on Wall Street as investors look to the next set of U.S inflation numbers due this week, which could provide further clarity on when the Federal Reserve might start cutting interest rates. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.2%, after U.S. stocks ended the previous session with gains. U.S. stock futures, the S&P 500 e-minis, were down slightly 0.1%.