Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index extending its second weekly loss, as improving U.S. economic data boosted bets the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus as early as next week.

Nikkei 225 15,403.11 +61.29 +0.40%

Hang Seng 23,273.51 +55.39 +0.24%

S&P/ASX 200 5,098.43 +35.91 +0.71%

Shanghai Composite 2,196.07 -6.72 -0.31%

Zhaojin Mining Industry Co., China’s second-largest gold producer, declined 2.3 percent in Hong Kong as the precious metal traded near a five-month low.

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. lost 1.7 percent after the Japanese government said it plans to raise 153.3 billion yen ($1.5 billion) by selling shares in the company.

Toyota Motor Corp., Asia’s largest largest carmaker, gained 0.8 percent as the yen weakened against the dollar to the lowest since 2008, boosting the earnings outlook for Japanese exporters.