Asian stocks outside Japan rose, with a regional gauge extending gains into a third day as consumer and utilities companies advanced.

The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index climbed 0.2 percent to 467.83 as of 1:01 p.m. in Hong Kong. Global equities soared by more than $9 trillion in 2013 as central bank stimulus helped the U.S. economy gain momentum and Europe recover from its longest-ever recession.

Nikkei 225 Closed

Hang Seng 23,306.39 +61.52 +0.26 %

S&P/ASX 200 5,352.21 -4.59 -0.09 %

Shanghai Composite 2,115.98 +18.45 +0.88 %

HanKore Environment Tech Group Ltd. (BIOT) soared 35 percent in Singapore after a filing showed China Everbright International Ltd. plans to transfer water-industry investments to the company.

Sinopec Kantons Holdings Ltd. gained 4.6 percent in Hong Kong after the oil trader said its controlling shareholder China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. is considering a asset injection of natural gas pipelines.

Perseus Mining Ltd., a gold producer, sank 3.9 percent in Sydney as the precious metal headed for its biggest annual decline since 1981.