First Tractor Co., a Chinese maker of farm equipment, gained 4.1 percent in Hong Kong. Sony Corp., Japan’s biggest exporter of consumer electronics, added 1 percent in Tokyo. James Hardie Industries SE (JHX), the building materials supplier that counts the U.S. as its biggest market, advanced 2.1 percent in Sydney amid further evidence that the U.S. housing sector is stabilizing.

“I don’t see a hard landing happening in China this year because of the policy offsets that can be put in place,” said Andrew Pease, Sydney-based chief investment strategist for the Asia-Pacific region at Russell Investment Group, which manages about $150 billion. “China’s housing sector remains a key concern. The anecdotes coming out of the housing market suggest the weakness is quite pronounced.”

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index (MXAP) rose 0.7 percent to 127.02 as of 11:10 a.m. in Tokyo. The measure climbed 11 percent this year through yesterday as signs the U.S. economy is improving boosted confidence in the outlook for Asia’s exporters. The rally boosted the value of stocks on the gauge to 14.9 times estimated earnings on average, compared with 13.5 times for the S&P 500 and 11.2 times for the Stoxx 600.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average (NKY) gained 0.3 percent, erasing initial losses of as much as 0.2 percent, as the nation reported an unexpected trade surplus for February and higher- than-forecast exports, adding to evidence of a rebound in the world’s third-biggest economy.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 0.5 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.1 percent. China’s Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.3 percent, while South Korea’s Kospi Index slipped 0.1 percent.

U.S. Home Sales

Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.2 percent today. The gauge slid 0.2 percent in New York yesterday on concern the best first quarter since 1998 has outpaced economic prospects. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke told Congress that higher energy prices may weaken the U.S. economy by sapping consumer spending.

Exporters gained as sales of previously owned U.S. houses held in February near an almost two-year high, adding to evidence the market that triggered the recession is firming. A report yesterday showed purchases of previously owned homes dropped 0.9 percent to a 4.59 million annual rate from a revised 4.63 million pace in January.

Makers of farm equipment gained after the central bank cut the reserve requirements for an additional 379 branches of Agricultural Bank of China. The move expands a trial that previously lowered requirements for 563 branches in eight provinces and means a total of 23 billion yuan ($3.6 billion) has been freed up, the People’s Bank of China said yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Burgos in Singapore at jburgos4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-22/asian-stocks-rise-as-china-eases-lending-curbs-for-rural-banks.html

• Asian Stocks Rise on Faster Japan Inflation, U.S. Outlook   (2014-05-30 09:33:27)
• Asian Stocks Rise on Faster Japan Inflation, U.S. Outlook   (2014-05-30 09:33:27)
• Asian Stocks Rise on Faster Japan Inflation, U.S. Outlook   (2014-05-30 09:33:02)
• Asian Stocks Fluctuate After Japan Retail Sales Slump   (2014-05-29 09:37:51)
• Asian Stocks Fall Second Day as Health-Care Shares Drop   (2014-04-08 08:52:58)
• Industrial Stocks Take ETF Bounty   (2014-04-08 08:52:29)
• Asian Stocks Set for Second Weekly Gain Before U.S. Jobs   (2014-04-04 09:46:16)
• Australia Model Curbs Speed as CEO Says U.S. Too Far Gone   (2014-04-04 09:45:49)
• Asia Stocks Rise 4th Day as Consumer Shares Lead Gain   (2014-03-31 10:48:33)
• Asia Stocks Swing After U.S. Manufacturing Index Falls   (2014-03-25 11:29:14)