Most Asian stocks rose, with a regional benchmark index extending gains from a seven-week high, as material producers advanced ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s address to the U.S. Congress today.

Nikkei 225 14,615.04 +15.92 +0.11%

Hang Seng 21,349.65 +37.27 +0.17%

S&P/ASX 200 4,981.68 -4.33 -0.09%

Shanghai Composite 2,044.92 -20.80 -1.01%

BHP Billiton Ltd. added 2.3 percent in Sydney after the world’s biggest mining company said fourth-quarter iron-ore production gained 17 percent.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. jumped 11 percent in Tokyo on a report the carmaker will pay its first dividend in 16 years.

China Resources Power Holdings Co. slumped 9.6 percent after a Xinhua News Agency reporter said the power generator and the chairman of its state-owned parent intentionally overpaid for a 2010 acquisition.