Asian stocks gained, with the regional benchmark index heading for its biggest weekly advance in almost five months, as optimism that central banks from China to the U.S. will act to stimulate economic growth tempered concerns Europe’s debt crisis will worsen.

Nikkei 225 8,569.32 +0.43 +0.01%

S&P/ASX 200 4,057.33 +15.09 +0.37%

Shanghai Composite 2,306.85 +10.90 +0.47%

Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., the nation’s third-largest lender by market value, climbed 2.1 percent. Esprit Holdings Ltd. gained 9.2 percent in Hong Kong, heading for its first advance in three days, as the clothier said it will continue with its transformation strategy after both its chairman and chief executive officer quit. DeNA Co., Japan’s biggest social- gaming operator, jumped 12 percent in Tokyo after announcing plans to buy back shares.