Asian stocks open higher on Asian free trade deal optimism

Asian stock indices opened the first session of the week higher after 15 Asia-Pacific countries signed the biggest regional free trade deal in the world to cut tariffs gradually in many areas. 

Earlier Chinese data showed industrial production up 6.9% in October, while retail sales rose 4.3%, up from 3.3% in September, as unemployment fell to 5.3% as expected. 

From Japan, GDP growth clocked in at 5%, compared to a 7.9% contraction in the second quarter. 

Japan's industrial production rose 3.9% in September, barely missing estimates of 4% and compared to a 1% rise in August. 

Japan's TOPEX rose 1.78%, while Nikkei 225 climbed 1.97% to 25,887. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.76% to 4,893, while Shanghai rose 0.97% to 3,342. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.47%, while South Korea's KOSPI rallied 1.89% to 2,541. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.35%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rallied 1.23% to 6,484.