Asia gains, dollar sags as weak U.S. data dampens rate hike prospects

By Shinichi Saoshiro TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Thursday and the dollar struggled near multi-week lows after weak U.S. economic data added to expectations that the Federal Reserve will delay hiking interest rates. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4 percent. The index fell the previous day after soft consumer inflation in China added to concerns about the world's second-biggest economy.