Asian stocks open on a positive note

Asian stocks rose, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index heading for a second week of gains, after crude oil climbed to the highest in a year and the yen weakened to a three-week low against the dollar.

Sony Corp climbed almost 2.5% on optimism the drop in the yen will boost the value of US sales and as Citigroup advised buying the shares.

Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 rose 7.95 points, or 0.08%, to trade at 10,246.60.

Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index gained 138.98 points, or 0.63%, to trade at 22,138.06.

China`s Shanghai Composite increased 0.44 points, or 0.01% to trade at 2,980.23.

Taiwan`s Taiex index fell 2.86 points, or 0.04%, to trade at 7,707.54.

South Korea`s Kospi index lost 3.94 points, or 0.24% to trade at 1,655.05.

Singapore`s Straits Times declined 1.38 points, or 0.05%, to trade at 2,710.77. (7.40 a.m., IST)