Emerging-market stocks rise led by financial and technology companies

Emerging-market equities increased on Friday with the area's benchmark index rising towards a weekly gain as financial and technology shares advanced, while the Thai stocks and the local currency dropped. The MSCI Emerging Market Index surged 0.3% to 1,006.70 as of 2:05 p.m. Hong Kong time and it has jumped 0.2% this week.