Asian stocks up ahead of Italy move

Asian stocks rose today amid improving US jobs and manufacturing data and the expected approval in Italy of an austerity plan intended to get the country’s finances under control.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was 0.3% higher at 8,403.45, South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.5% to 1,828.06, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.3% to 18,082.96. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China also rose.