China steel
In Taiwan, China Steel advanced after a Chinese-language newspaper report suggested they may raise prices because of demand from China.
China Steel, Tung Ho Steel Enterprise Corp, Feng Hsin Iron & Steel Co and Wei Chih Steel Industrial Co stopped quoting prices on their products before a price rise next week, the newspaper cited the makers as saying.
China Steel, Taiwan's largest steelmaker, rose 5.1 percent to NT$26.7 this week. Tung Ho Steel, a maker of steel plates, surged 23 percent to NT$12.9.
Japanese earnings
Investors will look at earnings at home next week to gauge whether gains in the region are sustainable. Sony reports fiscal first-quarter earnings on July 24. Sony tumbled after it reported on April 24 a net loss of ?111 billion (US$932 million) for the January to March period.
Sony's fourth-quarter operating loss at its electronics division, which accounts for about 70 percent of sales, more than doubled to ?116.1 billion from the year-ago period.
The following Japanese companies will report earnings on July 25: Advantest Corp, Nikko Cordial Corp, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc, Mitsubishi Securities Co and UFJ Tsubasa Securities.
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