Asian stocks rose, with a regional benchmark index (CRY) set to extend its longest streak of weekly advances since 2010, after U.S. unemployment unexpectedly fell, boosting the earnings outlook for Asian exporters.

Nikkei 225 8,929.2 +97.27 +1.10%

Hang Seng 20,709.94 -47.04 -0.23%

S&P/ASX 200 4,295.99 +44.81 +1.05%

Shanghai Composite 2,331.14 +0.73 +0.03%

Nikon Corp., a maker of cameras and lenses that gets more than a quarter of its revenue from North America, jumped 11 percent in Tokyo after raising its full-year operating profit forecast.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s No. 1 mining company, gained 1.6 percent in Sydney after commodity prices increased. Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., the nation’s third-biggest lender by market value, dropped 1.8 percent amid concern that a worsening of Europe's crisis will hurt China’s economic growth.