Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index headed for its highest close in a month, after better-than-forecast data for U.S. employment and the services industry eased investor concern that growth is slowing in the world’s largest economy.

Nikkei 225 8,726.29 +171.18 +2.00%

S&P/ASX 200 4,272.6 +51.12 +1.21%

Shanghai Composite 2,153.6 +20.80 +0.98%

Li & Fung Ltd., which gets 60 percent of its sales from the U.S., climbed 3.9 percent in Hong Kong.

Asahi Glass Co. jumped 7.3 percent in Tokyo after Nomura Holdings Inc. raised its rating to buy from neutral on its profit outlook.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest miner, increased 2.2 percent in Sydney after commodity prices advanced.

Sharp Corp., a consumer electronics maker that widened its loss forecast last week, sank 5.7 percent in Tokyo.