Asian stocks open on a positive note

Asian stocks rose as commodity prices rose and International Business Machines Corp. earnings beat analyst estimates.

Toshiba Corp, climbed 2% as IBM became the second technology bellwether this week after Intel Corp. to post forecasts that exceeded analyst targets. Nomura Holdings gained more than 2.2% after the Nikkei English News said the nation`s investment banking revenue rose.

Japanese benchmark index Nikkei rose 32.84 points, or 0.35%, to trade at 9,377.

Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index climbed 190.04 points, or 1.03%, to trade at 18,551.91.

China`s Shanghai Composite fell 5.25 points, or 0.16% to trade at 3,178.49.

Taiwan`s Taiex index advanced 30.20 points, or 0.45%, to trade at 6,810.50.

South Korea`s Kospi index rose 2.05 points, or 0.14%, to trade at 1,434.27.

Singapore`s Straits Times lost 4.71 points, or 0.20%, to trade at 2,396.31. (7.40 a.m., IST)