Asian Stock Markets Lose Ground

   According to a report from the Wall Street journal,asian markets lack enthusiasm after the release of chinese data:
"Chinese Fixed-asset investment grew by 19.9% in the first 11 months of the year, just below expectations, though a 13.7% rise in retail sales in November did overshoot consensus.
Chinese stocks did not react with much enthusiasm, however, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipping 0.3% to 23744.19 and the Shanghai Composite ending less than one point lower at 2237.49.

Earlier in the year, when there were concerns over the health of the Chinese economy, positive economic data often had a significant impact on stocks. But now that the market is used to the idea that the economy has stabilized, the data points are having less of an effect as investors look to further signs that Beijing could implement economic reforms. In particular, the market was looking at a meeting of senior officials that began in China on Tuesday to review this year's economic progress and map plans for 2014.

Elsewhere in the region, Japan's Nikkei fell 0.3% to 15611.31 after a 2.3% jump on Monday, as the yen strengthened during Asian trade. Although the dollar gained 0.4% against the yen on Monday it retreated slightly on Tuesday—trading at ¥103.13 late in Asia, though it remained within striking distance of the 2013 high of ¥103.74.

South Korea's Kospi fell 0.4% to 1993.45 and Singapore's Straits Times Index was down 0.9% late in Asia.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 ended flat at 5143.60, paring earlier gains, as shares stabilized after a Monday selloff following a profit warning fromQBE Insurance  that surprised the market and hit broader sentiment. The insurer fell another 9.8% Tuesday".