Most Asian shares climbed after data showed U.S. companies added workers. Railway stocks surged in Hong Kong as China outlined economic stimulus plans.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 spiked 125.56 points, or 0.8%, to 15,071.88
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong gained 41.14 points, or 0.2%, to 22,565.08
Honda Motor, a carmaker that gets about 44% of sales from North America, gained 1% in Tokyo.
Orix Corp. rose 2% in Tokyo after the leasing company said it will sell its stake in Monex Group Inc. to Shizuoka Bank Ltd.
Samsung Electronics, South Korea’s biggest exporter of consumer electronics, rose 2.4%, contributing the most to the regional equity gauge’s advance.
China Railway Construction Corp. jumped 7.2% in Hong Kong after the government said it plans more than 6,600 kilometres of new rail lines this year.
Prada SpA sank 5% in Hong Kong after the Italian handbag maker forecast slower luxury sales growth.
China’s rail stocks rose after the government said it will sell 150 billion yuan ($24 billion U.S.) of bonds this year to help build railways mainly in the less-developed central and western regions
China Railway Construction surged 7.2% in Hong Kong. China Railway Group Ltd. climbed 5.1%.
CHINA
The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 was lower by 15.72 points, or 0.7%, to 2,165.01
China’s non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 54.5 in March from a previously reported 55 in February, the government reported today.
China yesterday outlined a package of measures including railway spending and tax relief to support the economy and create jobs after a slowdown endangered Premier Li Keqiang’s target of 7.5% growth this year.
In other markets;
In Taiwan, the Taiex dropped 16.91 points, or 0.2%, to 8,888.54
Singapore’s Straits Times Index reacquired 27.28 points, or 0.9%, to 3,220.06
Korea’s Kospi Index inched down 3.55 points, or 0.2%, to 1,993.70
The New Zealand Exchange 50 index gained back 6.06 points, or 0.1%, to 5,122.37
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was 6.59 points, or 0.1%, better to 5,409.89
