Nikkei: 8,514.47 (+13.67) Hang Seng: 19,137.17 (+173.28) Shanghai Comp: 2,481.08 (+1.55)ASIAN STOCKS rose yesterday, as US jobless claims fell and the selection of a new Greek premier tempered concern Europe's debt crisis will not be contained.

“So far the contagion from Europe to the US that everyone has been worried about seems to be fairly limited. That’s a good sign. But Europe is going to get worse before it gets better,” said Andrew Pease, senior investment strategist at Russell Investment.

Sony, a maker of PlayStation game consoles and Bravia televisions, climbed 2.4 per cent to ¥1,354 in Tokyo.

Canon, the world’s biggest camera maker, gained 2.1 per cent to ¥3,435.

LG Electronics, Asia’s second-largest maker of mobile phones by sales, jumped 6.4 per cent to 64,600 won in Seoul.

Sinopec, as the Chinese oil refiner is known, gained 3.1 per cent to HK$8.28.

Esprit, a Hong Kong-based clothier that gets most of its sales from Europe, rose 4.7 per cent to HK$9.95 after CEO Ronald Van Der Vis bought 300,000 of its shares.

Galaxy Entertainment, a gaming company, slumped 6.9 per cent to HK$14.40. – (Bloomberg)