Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index headed for its biggest gain in nine months, amid signs the Japanese and U.S. economies are improving and assurances on stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve.

Nikkei 225 13,677.32 +463.77 +3.51%

Hang Seng 20,803.29 +363.21 +1.78%

S&P/ASX 200 4,802.59 -8.69 -0.18%

Shanghai Composite 1,979.21 +29.19 +1.50%

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest carmaker, rose 1.5 percent, pacing gains among Japanese exporters as the yen weakened.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan's No. 1 lender, climbed 4.1 percent after the nation's industrial output and retail sales beat expectations.

China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd., the largest mainland property company traded in Hong Kong, rose 4.6 percent on speculation the government will remove a ban on refinancing for real-estate development.