Most Asian stocks rose as gains in metal prices boosted mining companies and health-care stocks rallied. South Korean shares fell after North Korea conducted a nuclear test.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average regained 121.19 points, or 1.3%, to end the week’s first session at 9,347.00, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong picked up 59.30 points, or 0.4%, to 17,121.82.
BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, added 1.2% in Sydney after a measure of metals traded in London climbed the most in two weeks on May 22. Shionogi & Co. jumped 5.7%, pacing advances by health-care stocks, after the Nikkei newspaper reported the company aims to sell a new drug for influenza as early as 2010.
LG Electronics Inc., the world’s third-largest maker of mobile phones, sank as much as 6.3% in Seoul after what North Korea described as a "successful" underground nuclear test today.
Ishikawa Seisakusho Ltd., which makes weapons for national defense forces, soared 17% in Tokyo on speculation demand for its products will rise because of a more aggressive North Korea.
Singapore Petroleum Co. surged 20% after PetroChina Co. agreed to buy a stake. Goodman Group, Australia’s largest industrial real estate investment trust, sank 13% after regulators lifted an eight-month ban on short-selling financial companies.
In Sydney, Goodman Group slumped 13%. Macquarie Office Trust, an office property trust, slipped 6.5%. Suncorp Metway Ltd., which offers banking and insurance services, slid 2.9%.
Elsewhere:
Shanghai’s CSI 300 Composite Index tacked on 12.04, or 0.4%, to 2,752.72
Singapore’s Straits Times Index advanced 22.19 points, or 1% to 2,267.46
South Korea’s Kospi index eased off 2.85 points, or 0.2% to 1,400.90
Taiwan’s Taiex index slid 2.83 points, or 0.04% to 6,734.46
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index moved 20.35, or 0.7%, lower, to 2,740.20
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 23.70 points, or 0.6% to 3,737.90
