Asia stocks rise, dollar sags as weak U.S. data dents rate hike prospects

By Shinichi Saoshiro TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares rose to 2-month highs 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 1.6 percent to its highest since mid-August. The index had fallen the previous day after soft consumer inflation in China added to concerns about the world's second-biggest economy.