Increasing sales of cellular phones may help lift earnings as well, according to Morgan Stanley, which raised its fourth-quarter net income estimate by 16 percent in December. Samsung Electronics is the world's third-largest mobile-phone maker.
Any advance in South Korean stocks may be limited after North Korea said it withdrew from a treaty barring it from pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. The KOSPI on Friday shed 0.3 percent to 628.36, its lowest close this year.
Shares of companies based in China have done better. The Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index, tracking mainland companies including China Mobile, has risen 7.2 percent. That's better than the 4.3 percent gain in the Hang Seng Index.
"Chinese companies are certainly enjoying the high growth" in the country's economy, said Ben Kwong, a researcher at KGI Asia Ltd. Kwong said he expects mainland companies to outperform the Hang Seng in coming months. He advises investors to buy shares of Chinese automakers, including Denway Motors Ltd and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd.
Australia's Tabcorp Holdings Ltd., the country's largest gaming company, may advance. The Melbourne-based company said after the market closed on Friday it began talks with Jupiters Ltd, the third-largest casino operator, about a possible merger.
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