Asian stocks rose as brokerages trading in Hong Kong climbed after China announced plans to link the Hong Kong and Shanghai bourses, outweighing an unexpected fall in exports from the region’s biggest economy. China’s customs administration said shipments from the nation declined 6.6 percent from a year earlier, compared with the median estimate for a 4.8 percent increase in a Bloomberg News survey of 47 economists. Imports fell 11.3 percent, leaving a trade surplus of $7.71 billion.

Nikkei 225 14,300.12 +0.43 0.00%

S&P/ASX 200 5,480.8 +17.02 +0.31%

Shanghai Composite 2,134.23 +28.99 +1.38%

Citic Securities Co. surged 11 percent in Hong Kong, pushing a gauge of Chinese shares listed in the city to a three-month high.

NSK Ltd. gained 3.6 percent in Tokyo after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. advised buying shares of the bearings maker.