Asian exchanges snap three-day retreat on Japan economy, US jobs

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index snapping a three-day losing streak, after Japan's economy shrank less than the government initially estimated, US employers increased hiring and more investors joined a Greek debt swap.

Toyota Motor Corp, Asia's biggest carmaker by market value, rose 2.6 percent in Tokyo. Esprit Holdings Ltd, a clothier that counts Europe as its biggest market, added 5.6 percent in Hong Kong. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Japan's top lender, advanced 2.7 percent after US banks gained on a report the Federal Reserve is considering a new type of bond-purchase program. LG Innotek Co paced gains among suppliers to Apple Inc, which on Wednesday introduced a new iPad tablet.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 1.3 percent to 126.03 as of 5:05 pm in Tokyo. Nine out of 10 industry groups in the measure advanced.