Nikkei: 10,005.90 (+116.18) Hang Seng: 22,003.69 (+101.29) Shanghai Comp: 2,794.20 (–2.78)TECHNOLOGY STOCKS drove Tokyo's equities benchmark to its biggest gain in three weeks yesterday, after strong earnings from US technology firms boosted sentiment across the sector.

Better than expected results from Apple and IBM stimulated demand for their peers around the Pacific.

Nikon was one of its best performing stocks, up 3.5 per cent at ¥1,830. Pioneer rose 1.8 per cent to ¥392, Toshiba gained 2.7 per cent to ¥413 and TDK jumped 3.1 per cent to ¥4,375. Honda climbed 1.3 per cent to ¥3,185.

South Korea’s market heavyweight Samsung Electronics climbed 3.5 per cent to Won851,000. LG Display jumped 4.8 per cent to Won30,550.

In Hong Kong, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial gained 1.6 per cent to ¥389. In Sydney, Westpac Banking rose 2.3 per cent to A$21.16.

Australia’s SP/ASX 200 gained 1.8 per cent. BHP Billiton, the miner, was up 1.9 per cent at A$43.44, while Rio Tinto advanced 1.5 per cent to A$82.55.

There was a 5.1 per cent gain for News Corp, taking its stock to A$15.24. – (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011)