Asian stocks rise as Chinese data starts to improve

Asian stocks have been given a lift by a broadly positive set of Chinese data as investors look to end the week on a high note.

Major equity indices across Japan, China, Hong Kong and Korea are on the way to end the week in positive territory, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng up 0.6% following positive Chinese production data. The index rose to 21,785 after data showed industrial production rose 9.7% in July, above expectations albeit still below the key 10% mark. Meanwhile retail sales rose 13.2% year-on-year last month, according to official statistics. However, earlier data released overnight showed China's producers remain trapped in a deflationary spiral for the 17th consecutive month running. China's con...