Asian Stocks Advance on U.S. Economic Optimism, Yen

Asian stocks rose, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average closing at the highest in six years as the yen touched a sixth-month low against the dollar after U.S. employment and consumer confidence reports boosted optimism in the world’s largest economy.

Honda Motor Co., a carmaker that gets almost half its sales in the U.S. added 1.5 percent. Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Co. advanced 0.8 percent after Murray Goulburn Cooperative Co., Australia’s biggest milk processor, raised its takeover offer. Forge Group Ltd. slumped 84 percent in Sydney after the mining-services firm said it will report a 2014 loss.