Asians stocks mostly higher as Japan leads on stimulus hopes

TOKYO — Asian shares were higher Thursday as Japan’s benchmark rose on hopes of Japanese government stimulus spending and better-than-expected earnings lifted Wall Street. KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.8 percent to finish at 16,810.22. South Korea’s Kospi slipped nearly 0.2 percent to 2,012.22. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 1.0 percent to