Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index paring its sixth straight weekly loss, as U.S. jobless claims fell and investors weighed company earnings.

Nikkei 225 14,462.41 +307.29 +2.17%

S&P/ASX 200 5,166.53 +35.13 +0.68%

Shanghai Composite Closed

Honda Motor Co., a Japanese carmaker that gets almost half its revenue in North America, added 2.9 percent.

Sony Corp. climbed 4.1 percent in Tokyo after the electronics maker announced job cuts and a reorganization.

Aurora Oil & Gas Ltd. surged 56 percent in Sydney after Baytex Energy Corp., a Canadian producer of heavy crude oil, agreed to buy the company.

GS Engineering & Construction Corp. slumped 15 percent in Seoul after the contractor said it’s considering a share sale.