Asian stocks rose amid low trading volume, with gains in Japanese utilities helping reverse yesterday’s losses on the regional benchmark index, as investors awaited the results of the U.S. presidential election and a once-in-a-decade leadership change in China.

Nikkei 225 8,975.15 -32.29 -0.36%

Hang Seng 21,944.43 -61.97 -0.28%

S&P/ASX 200 4,484.8 +10.68 +0.24%

Shanghai Composite 2,106 -8.03 -0.38%

Kansai Electric Power Co. led a rebound in utilities after sliding yesterday as advisers to the regulator disagreed on the earthquake risk to the nation’s only operating nuclear plant.

HSBC Holdings Plc dropped 1.2 percent in Hong Kong after saying it may face charges tied to money-laundering.

Alumina Ltd. lost 7.9 percent after an Indonesian court stopped an ore export ban that bolstered demand for the Australian miner’s product.