Asian stocks open in green

Asian stocks gained, led by finance and mining companies, after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke said policies to unfreeze credit markets are working.

Mizuho Financial Group gained almost 3% Tokyo. Panasonic Corp advanced almost 4.5% after Nomura Holdings raised the shares to buy.

Japanese benchmark index Nikkei gained 224.01 points, or 2.56%, to trade at 8,973.85.

Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index advanced 375.15 points, or 2.58%, to trade at 14,920.84.

Taiwan`s Taiex index climbed 48.98 points, or 0.89%, to trade at 5,578.61.

South Korea`s Kospi index went up 29.15 points, or 2.27%, to trade at 1,312.90.

Singapore`s Straits Times rose 35.30 points, or 1.94%, to trade at 1,856.17. (7.45 a.m., IST).

China`s Shanghai Composite is not trading today.