Asian Stocks Head for Four-Day Gain on Fed Rate Optimism

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index gaining for a fourth day, as investors weighed earnings and the likely timing of Federal Reserve interest-rate increases.

NCsoft Corp., a maker of online games, advanced 7.6 percent in Seoul after reporting quarterly profit rose. Crown Resorts Ltd. soared 5.6 percent after the Australian casino company posted a 66 percent increase in full-year net income. Telstra Corp., Australia’s largest phone company, added 2.2 percent after announcing a share buyback and posting annual profit above estimates. Aiful Corp. plummeted 16 percent as the Japanese consumer lender said quarterly profit sank 71 percent.