Asian stocks fall as China stimulus fails to meet expectations while Bitcoin hits record high

Asian stocks fell on Monday, led by a 2.5% drop in Hong Kong's Hang Seng index. This decline followed China's disappointing stimulus announcement, which did not meet investor expectations for direct economic support. In contrast, Bitcoin surged to a record high of $81,756, driven by optimism surrounding Donald Trump's election victory and pro-crypto candidates in Congress. Investors anticipate a more favorable regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies. The U.S. dollar remained strong ahead of key inflation data and Federal Reserve speeches this week. Oil prices also continued to decline, with Brent crude down 0.3% to $73.68 a barrel.