Nikkei: 9,963.14 (+37.22) Hang Seng: 21,926.88 (+263.77) Shanghai Comp: 2,795.48 (+40.89)

ASIAN SHARES climbed yesterday, after second-quarter growth in China came in stronger than expected, leaving investors more confident that the world’s second-largest economy was unlikely to come in for a hard landing.

Agricultural Bank of China, the nation’s fourth-largest by assets, was up 1.9 per cent to Rmb2.71 after forecasting a rise of more than 45 per cent in first-half net profit.

Shenzhen Development Bank gained 3.2 per cent to Rmb17.54.

The FTSE Asia Pacific index was up 1 per cent as resource stocks across the region drew in bargain-hunters. Jiangxi Copper was 3.4 per cent higher at Rmb36.07.

In Australia Sundance Resources jumped 7.5 per cent to A$0.36, while BlueScope Steel climbed 4.9 per cent to A$1.28.

Taiwanese stocks inched lower, with smartphone maker HTC remaining under pressure, falling 4.9 per cent to T$870 in the wake of news about a fresh lawsuit brought by Apple.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4 per cent 9,963.14, with Mitsui rising 2.1 per cent to ¥1,432