Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index paring its sixth straight weekly loss, as U.S. jobless claims fell and investors weighed company earnings.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index bolted higher 307.29 points, or 2.2%, to 14,462.41
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong gained 213.72 points, or 1%, to 21,636.85
Honda Motor Co., a Japanese car maker that gets almost half its revenue in North America, added 2.9%. Sony Corp. climbed 4.1% in Tokyo after the electronics maker announced job cuts and a reorganization.
Aurora Oil & Gas Ltd. surged 56% in Sydney after Baytex Energy Corp., a Canadian producer of heavy crude oil, agreed to buy the company. GS Engineering & Construction Corp. slumped 15% in Seoul after the contractor said it’s considering a share sale.
Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd., a shoemaker that gets about 29% of sales from the U.S., added 2.8%. Samsung Electronics Co., a consumer electronics maker that gets 22% of its revenue in America, climbed 1.3%.
Sony advanced 4.1% after announcing reorganization steps yesterday that include selling a personal-computer unit, cutting about 5,000 more jobs and splitting the TV business into a separate subsidiary.
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. gained 5.3% after saying it will restructure its business. The plan was "bolder" than expected and is positive for the share price, Credit Suisse Group AG said in a report.
GS Engineering & Construction slumped 15% as it considers a share sale. Details have yet to be decided, the company said in a regulatory filing. GS Engineering reported a fourth-quarter net loss of 206.1 billion won ($192 million U.S.).
CHINA
The Shanghai CSI 300 Index resumed after holiday to add 10.03 points, or 0.5%, to 2,212.48
Private data today showed China’s services activity expanded at a slower pace in January.
In other markets;
Taiwan’s Taiex Index perked 76.34 points, or 0.9%, to 8,387.35
Singapore’s Straits Times Index moved higher 24.87 points, or 0.8%, to 3,013.14
Korea’s Kospi Index acquired 14.61 points, or 0.8%, to 1,922.50
The New Zealand Exchange 50 index returned from holiday to gain 32.85 points, or 0.7%, to 4,840.79
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 moved forward 35.13 points, or 0.7%, to 5,166.53
