Asian stocks strengthened on encouraging US jobs report

The rise in commodity prices following a stronger than expected jobs report, brought gains in Asia as investors' confidence in the global recovery improved. The MSCI Asia Pacific rose today by 0.4% to 138.06 at 13:41 in Tokyo. Stocks in Japan fell after the government may request a shut down of the nuclear reactor.

Nikkei 225

Nikkei 225 fell today by 0.66% or 64.82 points closing at 9794.38. From 225 shares, 73 advanced, 135 declined and 17 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were consumer services that lost 24.58 points and the industrials that lost 13.52 points.

Lagging shares today were Fast Retailing Co Ltd which fell by 4.20% closing at 12310 yen, second was Tokyo Electron Ltd which fell by 2.26% closing at 4545 yen. And Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd which fell by 1.84% closing at 4265 yen.

Among the shares that advanced were Sony Corp topped the list by rising 2.08% closing at 2309 yen, followed by KDDI Corp which rose by 0.73% and closing at 551000 yen. And NGK Insulators Ltd which rose by 2.34% and closing at 1442 yen.

S&P/ASX 200

The S&P/ASX 200 rose today by 0.29% or 13.80 points closing at 4756.80. From 200 companies, 120 shares ended green compared to 65 ending in red and 15 unchanged. Sectors leading the incline were the financials that gained 5.27 points and basic materials that gained 4.79 points.

Hastie Group Ltd inclined the most today as it rose 23.91% closing at 0.28 Australian dollars, followed by Spotless Group Ltd surging 12.53% closing at 2.20 Australian dollars, and Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd that surged by 8.70% closing at 0.25 Australian dollars.

Lagging shares today included Gunns Ltd that retreated 5.26% closing at 0.45 Australian dollars, trailed by Southern Cross Media Group Ltd loosing 3.33% closing at 1.45 dollars. And Fairfax Media Ltd that fell 3.11% closing at 1.09 Australian dollars.

Hang Seng

Hang Seng rose today by 0.76% or 176.86 points to close at 23336.00. From 45 companies, 33 rose today, while 4 fell, and 8 unchanged. Sectors leading the incline were the financials that gained 96.10 points and oil & gas that gained 44.00 points.

The shares that advanced HSBC Holdings PLC topped the list by rising 1.57% closing at 84.00 Hong Kong dollars, followed by CNOOC Ltd that rose by 1.78% and closing at 18.30 Hong Kong dollars. And PetroChina Co Ltd that rose by 1.72% closing at 10.66 Hong Kong dollars.

Lagging shares today were Tencent Holdings Ltd which fell 0.85% closing at 209.80 Hong Kong dollars, and Esprit Holdings Ltd falling by 3.35% closing at 30.30 Hong Kong dollars. And Industrial & Commercial Bank of China falling by 0.31% closing at 6.45 Hong Kong dollars.