Asia shares rise as China data stoke stimulus bets

By Lisa Twaronite TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares advanced on Wednesday despite another set of disappointing Chinese economic reports, as investors instead focused on hopes of further stimulus from Beijing to prevent a sharper slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. European shares were expected to get the day off to a bright start, with financial spreadbetters predicting Britain's FTSE 100 would open up as much as 0.2 percent up, Germany's DAX 0.4 percent higher, and Franc