ASIAN stocks closed the week higher

Asian stocks rose, with the regional index on course for a second week of gains, as European policy makers signaled they will keep interest rates low for longer.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 1% to 131.87, with all 10 industry groups on the measure climbing. The gauge is headed for a 1% advance this week.

Japan’s Topix index added 1.5%, with trading volume 19 percent below its 30-day intraday average. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 2.1%, led by exporters, as the yen weakened 0.3% to 100.30 to the dollar.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 1.6% and the Shanghai Composite gained 0.1%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 1% and South Korea’s Kospi (KOSPI) index fell 0.3%. New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index climbed 0.7%. Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.9% and Taiwan’s Taiex Index jumped 1.4%.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi pledged to keep interest rates at a record low for an “extended period” yesterday after Bank of England chief Mark Carney said increases in market rates weren’t warranted.

Komatsu Ltd., a maker of construction and mining equipment that gets 80% of sales offshore, gained 2.4% in Tokyo. 

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest carmaker, added 2.1%. Nissan Motor Co. advanced 1.9%.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world biggest miner, climbed 1.2% in Sydney, leading an advance among raw-material companies. 

Samsung Electronics Co. sank 3.8% in Seoul after the largest television maker missed estimates for second-quarter earnings.

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