Nikkei: 9,477.17 (+16.54) Hang Seng: 22,730.78 (+19.76) Shanghai Comp: 2,767.61 (-6.96):ASIAN STOCKS rose yesterday, snapping three straight days of losses, as commodity prices advanced after Goldman Sachs suggested buying oil, copper and zinc and as Sony said it expected to turn to profit.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.3 per cent to 131.95, after dropping as much as 0.4 per cent earlier. More than five stocks rose for every four that fell on the index.

Korea Zinc surged 6.6 per cent to 374,000 won in Seoul.

In Hong Kong, Jiangxi Copper gained 1.4 per cent to HK$24.65 and Cnooc, China’s biggest offshore oil producer, climbed 1.1 per cent to HK$18.06. Goldman Sachs suggested buying oil, copper and zinc even as it cut forecasts for Asian earnings and economic growth. Li and Fung, a supplier to retailers including Wal-Mart, slid 2.7 per cent to HK$17.38.

Sony rallied 2.7 per cent to ¥2,270 in Tokyo, leading the region’s technology stocks higher

LG Electronics, the world’s third-largest maker of mobile phones, lost 1.5 per cent to 101,000 won in Seoul

In Sydney, Billabong International, the world’s No. 1 surfwear maker, dropped 1.5 per cent to A$5.87. – (Bloomberg)