Asian stocks experienced an increase as
investors reacted positively on latest reports from Europe. Shanghai Composite rose
0.2%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 2%. South Korea's Kospi added
2.2%, Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gained 1.6% and Australian S&P/ASX 200
index advanced by 1.9%. Several reports were published during weekend indicating progress
in taming debt crisis.