Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index on course for the highest close in a month, as telecommunication and health-care companies led gains. Chinese shares tumbled, led by property firms.

Nikkei 225 15,051.6 +213.92 +1.44%

S&P/ASX 200 5,433.84 -6.38 -0.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,034.22 -42.47 -2.04%

Naver Corp. surged 7.5 percent in Seoul as people with knowledge of the matter said a stake in the company’s Line Corp. mobile-messaging service is being sought by SoftBank Corp., which jumped 4.1 percent in Tokyo.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd. rose 6.7 percent in Sydney after raising its profit forecast.

HSBC Holdings Plc fell 2.4 percent in Hong Kong after profit at Europe’s largest bank missed estimates as a cost-cutting drive fell short of targets and revenue shrank.