Asian stocks set to reach 2-week high

Asian shares rose on Thursday, heading for the largest increase in a two-week period after a upbeat report on Chinese service sector business activity that expanded to the highest level in six months. Persistent strengthening of the emerging-market currencies also bolstered Asian equities . The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 0.5% as of 1:40 p.m. Tokyo time, while Hong Kong's and Taiwan's benchmark indexes added at least 1%.