Asian stock increased due to signs of improving economic activity in China. Retail sales in China increased 12.5% in May, exceeding expectations for a 12.3% gain, after a 11.9% rise in April.

The Chinese industrial production rose 8.8% in May, meeting expectations, after a 8.7% increase in April.

Escalating violence in Iraq weighed on markets.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225                         15,097.84                  +124.31             +0.83%

Hang Seng                         23,319.17                 +144.15             +0.62%

Shanghai Composite            2,070.71                   +19.00              +0.93%