Asian stocks posted modest gains and the dollar strengthened further against the yen Thursday as a healthy U.S. economic report and rising oil prices overnight bolstered investor optimism. KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.7 percent to 16,934.32 and South Korea's Kospi gained 0.2 percent to 2,058.13. Singapore's benchmark rose but those in Taiwan and New Zealand fell. The services report and a similar manufacturing index earlier this week were both surprisingly strong after weak readings the month before. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 0.4 percent to 2,159.73.

Source: ABC News October 05, 2016 14:28 UTC