Asian stocks up as US data boost sentiment

Asian stock markets were mostly higher on Thursday after a surge in new home sales in the US bolstered sentiment. But gains were limited by worries about Europe’s stagnant economy and violence in Iraq and Syria.
KEEPING SCORE: Japan outperformed the region with the Nikkei 225 up 1.2 per cent to 16,364.74 after the dollar rose above 109 yen overnight, a fresh six-year high. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.3 per cent to 2,351.39. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1 per cent to 5,380.30. Stocks in Southeast Asia rose. South Korea's Kospi drifted 0.1 per cent lower to 2,034.80 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged down 0.2 per cent to 23,884.90, according to AP.