Asian stocks rise as hopes of deal grow

Asian stock markets posted gains today on optimism over a pair of positive US economic reports and growing expectations that Washington will resolve a budget impasse before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the release of an 880.3 billion yen (€8.2bn) stimulus package by the Japanese government helped boost the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo. The benchmark rose 0.8% to 9,480.26 in early trading.