Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index trading near its highest close in 18 months, as Bridgestone Corp. surged by the most in four years on better- than-expected profit.

Nikkei 225 11,372.34 -35.53 -0.31%

Hang Seng 23,143.91 -238.03 -1.02%

S&P/ASX 200 5,081.9 +18.48 +0.36%

Bridgestone, the world’s biggest tiremaker, soared 10 percent in Tokyo, to the highest close since 2006.

Gree Inc., a Japanese social-network website operator, rose 2.7 percent on a share-buyback plan.

Nissan Motor Co., a Japanese carmaker that gets 79 percent of its revenue abroad, fell 1.1 percent as the yen strengthened after Finance Minister Taro Aso ruled out foreign bond buying.

Sands China Ltd. paced declines among casino operators in Hong Kong on a report Macau gaming revenue missed estimates.