Asian stocks rose, as better- than-forecast U.S. home sales boosted optimism in the world’s largest economy.

Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 rose 21.19 points, or 0.23%, to trade at 9,174.39. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advanced by 215.94 points, or 1.02%, to trade at 21,478. China’s Shanghai Composite increased 2.26 points, or 0.11% to trade at 2,016.98.

Taiwan’s Taiex index rose 31.33 points, or 0.44%, to trade at 7,130.07. South Korea’s Kospi index increased 15.14 points, or 0.81% to trade at 1,893.24. Singapore's Straits Times indexed advanced 21.01 points, or to 0.71% trade at 2,971.94 (07.16 a.m., IST).