Most Asian stocks stocks advanced as exporters climbed amid signs of improvement in China’s factory output and the U.S. housing market.

Nikkei 225 9,055.2 +100.90 +1.13%

S&P/ASX 200 4,510.5 +4.68 +0.10%

Shanghai Composite 2,105.99 -10.00 -0.47%

James Hardie Industries SE, a supplier of building materials that counts the U.S. as its biggest market, rose 1.1 percent in Sydney.

Huaneng Power International Inc., a Chinese electricity producer, gained 1.5 percent in Hong Kong.

Sharp Corp. sank 3.6 percent in Tokyo after the Nikkei newspaper reported that the maker of Aquos televisions may report a first- half loss of 400 billion yen ($5 billion).