Most Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index heading for the highest close since August 2011. Japanese shares gained after Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the central bank will pursue powerful monetary easing.

Nikkei 225 10,879.08 +77.51 +0.72%

S&P/ASX 200 4,716.56 -3.15 -0.07%

Shanghai Composite 2,325.68 +13.94 +0.60%

Olympus Corp., a maker of cameras and endoscopes, jumped 7.7 percent in Tokyo after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised the stock’s rating to buy.

Billabong International Ltd. surged 16 percent as Australia’s largest surfwear maker received a takeover offer from VF Corp. and Altamont Capital Partners.

LG Display Co. slid 3.5 percent in Seoul, pacing declines among Apple Inc. suppliers, after the Nikkei newswire reported Apple scaled back production plans for the iPhone 5.