Asia stocks lag Nikkei’s ascent, China skips rate cut

SYDNEY, Jan 15 — Asian shares got off to a stumbling start today as China’s central bank wrong footed markets by skipping on a rate cut, even as data due this week is expected to show the economic recovery there remains fragile. China reports economic growth data for the fourth quarter and a slew of monthly figures on Wednesday, and investors have become used to being underwhelmed by activity as Beijing drip feeds its stimulus. Chinese blue chips .CSI300 were little changed in response, having earlier reached their lowest since early 2019. A holiday in the United States also made for thin trading, but at least there was progress on averting an imminent government shutdown as congressional leaders agreed on…