July 18 (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose, led by exporters including Samsung Electronics Co. and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd., after U.S. industrial production climbed in June by the most in more than a year.

``The U.S. economy is looking strong,'' said Steven Marsh, who manages about $380 million at Trust Co. of Australia Ltd. in Sydney. ``Enthusiasm there is almost always infectious in other regions.''

The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific excluding Japan Index, which tracks 664 stocks, rose 0.3 percent to 278.74 at 5:25 p.m. in Hong Kong. A measure of technology companies climbed 0.8 percent, the biggest gain among the benchmark's 10 industry groups. Indian stocks rose for a second day, with the Sensitive index set for a record close.

Hong Kong stocks gained for a fourth day, led by developers such as Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., amid optimism property demand in the city can weather rising interest rates. Indexes also advanced in South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. Markets in Japan were closed for a holiday, while Taiwan was shut because of a Typhoon Haitang.

China's Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.4 percent, the region's biggest decliner. Automakers such as Dongfeng Automobile Co. slid after a government report showed vehicle and parts makers had a 53 percent drop in profit in the first five months of the year.

The U.S. Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 0.1 percent on July 15. Industrial production rose 0.9 percent in June, led by gains at auto factories and power plants. The increase was more than twice the forecast in a Bloomberg economist survey.

`Positive for Shares'

A separate report showed U.S. producer prices were unchanged last month, while prices excluding energy and food unexpectedly fell 0.1 percent. Economists forecast increases of 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent.

Samsung Electronics, South Korea's largest exporter, climbed 1.3 percent to 549,000 won. Its shares also gained after Credit Suisse First Boston raised its 12-month share price estimate to 630,000 won from an earlier estimate of 550,000 won, citing improving earnings prospects in the second half.

Chartered Semiconductor, Singapore's largest supplier of made-to-order chips, added 2.9 percent to S$1.43. The company generated about two-thirds of its sales in the U.S. last year.

``Demand for exporters' goods will be supported by growth in the U.S. economy, which is positive for their shares,'' said Jeon Jeong Woo, who helps oversee about $300 million at Daehan Investment Trust Management Co. in Seoul.

Sticking With It

Rinker Group Ltd., the world's biggest supplier of cement blocks in the U.S., jumped 6.4 percent to A$14.72. First-quarter profit surged 62 percent to $181 million after raising prices amid a building boom in Florida and Arizona.

``Rinker's result stacks up pretty well, so you'd have to be enthusiastic about the construction industry in the U.S.'' said Trust Co.'s Marsh, who holds Rinker shares. ``We'll stick with it for a while yet.''

In India, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. surged 6.6 percent to 1,329 rupees. The nation's biggest software company said it expects sales to grow by up to 26 percent in the year ending March 31.

Hindustan Lever Ltd., the country's biggest consumer- products company, advanced 2.6 percent, to 160.1 rupees after the Economic Times said the company's sales of detergents and shampoos rose 14 percent in May from a year earlier.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.4 percent, taking its four-day gain to 3 percent. Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong's biggest developer by market value, climbed 2 percent to HK$80.45. Sino Land Co. jumped 7.3 percent to HK$9.55.

Wharf Rises

Sino Group, Sino Land's parent, and its partners sold units in a development for HK$1.5 billion ($193 million), Wen Wei Po reported. Separately, Wharf (Holdings) Ltd. said it plans to start sales in the next two weeks of an industrial and office building.

The Hang Seng Property Index, which tracks five developers including Sun Hung Kai, climbed 1 percent, the biggest percentage gain on the main benchmark. The index has risen 30 percent in the past year amid rising property prices, even as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority raised its key rate nine times in step with the U.S. Federal Reserve.

``I'm still positive on property investors,'' said Conita Hung, head of research at Delta Asia Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong. ``Potential buyers haven't really been affected by interest rates.'' Wharf is among her ``favored plays.

Wharf, which invests in property, telecommunications and ports, gained 1.6 percent to HK$29.15.

China Drops

China's Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks yuan- denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares, slid for a second day. Dongfeng Auto, the publicly traded unit of China's third-largest automaker, dropped 2.4 percent to 2.49 yuan.

Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Co., which makes Hiace vans in China under license from Toyota Motor Corp., tumbled 7.5 percent to 1.36 yuan.

The nation's 6,244 automobile assemblers and parts makers reported combined profit of 16.7 billion yuan ($2 billion), 18.9 billion yuan less than a year earlier, as competition led to price discounts and raw material costs rose, according to the Ministry of Commerce's Web site.

``The figure has reinforced investors' doubt about whether the auto industry can get out of the current plight,'' said Zhang Tianshu, who manages about $25 million at Greenwoods Asset Management Co. in Shanghai.

Carter Holt, SK

Carter Holt Harvey Ltd., the biggest lumber maker in Australia and New Zealand, jumped 4.6 percent to NZ$2.49. The company agreed to sell about a third of its forests for NZ$441 million ($297 million), it said in a statement on July 15 after the market closed.

SK Corp., South Korea's largest oil refiner, dropped 4.7 percent to 50,200 won.

Sovereign Asset Management Ltd., SK's biggest overseas shareholder, sold its entire stake valued at $900 million in the company, ending a two-year battle for control that lifted the Seoul-based company's stock more than five-fold.

Sovereign, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, sold its 15 percent stake to investors after failing to oust SK Corp. Chairman Chey Tae Won, said Mark Stoleson, head of investments, on a conference call. The fund sold the shares at 49,011 won ($47.36) apiece, he said. Sovereign paid an average 9,000 won per share building its stake in 2003.

Asiana Airlines Inc. lost 2.3 percent to 4,550 won. South Korea's second-largest carrier canceled almost half its domestic flights after a strike by unionized pilots over working hours and job security went into a second day.

Asiana Airlines Inc. (020560 KS)
Carter Holt Harvey Ltd. (CAH NZ)
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. (CSM SP)
Dongfeng Automobile Co. (600006 CH)
Hindustan Lever Ltd. (HLVR IN)
Rinker Group Ltd. (RIN AU)
SK Corp. (003600 KS)
Samsung Electronics Co. (005930 KS)
Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Co. (600609 CH)
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS IN)

To contact the reporter on this story: Darren Boey in Hong Kong at dboey@bloomberg.net; Stuart Kelly in Sydney skelly22@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 18, 2005 05:27 EDT