Asian stocks rose, sending the regional benchmark index toward its longest-ever streak of weekly gains, as U.S. jobs and housing data beat projections, boosting confidence the world’s largest economy is recovering.

Nikkei 225 9,647.38 +51.81 +0.54%

Hang Seng 21,374.79 -6.20 -0.03%

S&P/ASX 200 4,306.78 +20.59 +0.48%

Shanghai Composite 2,439.63 +30.07 +1.25%

Samsung Electronics Inc., the world’s third-biggest maker of mobile phones, rose 1.7 percent in Seoul.

Inpex Corp, Japan’s No. 1 energy explorer, advanced 5.1 percent in Tokyo after crude oil futures extended gains for a seventh day.

Air New Zealand Ltd., the nation’s largest carrier, slipped 3.4 percent after posting a 61 percent drop in first-half profit.

AIA Group Ltd., the third-largest Asia-based insurer by market value, rose 3.7 percent to HK$28.40 in Hong Kong after saying the value of new business, a measure of future profitability, surged 40 percent last year.