Asian stocks advanced, with the regional benchmark index on course for its highest close in six years, as investors bet rising tensions in Ukraine over the shooting down of a jetliner won't curb global economic growth.

S&P/ASX 200 5,543.29 +3.35 +0.06%

TOPIX 1,273.27 +9.98 +0.79%

SHANGHAI COMP 2,075.48 +21.00 +1.02%

HANG SENG 23,773.24 +386.10 +1.65%

Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., the nation's biggest producer of the metal, jumped 6.2 percent as mainland stocks listed in Hong Kong led gains. All 10 industry groups on the regional gauge rose. Kangwon Land Inc., a South Korean casino and hotel services provider, surged 4.2 percent. Oriental Land Co. slipped 1.6 percent after the Nikkei reported profit at the operator of Tokyo's Disney resort will fall.