ASIAN stocks rose for the first time in three days, led by technology and energy companies, after analysts boosted Samsung Electronics Co's price target and crude oil advanced to a record.

Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest computer-memory maker, climbed after JPMorgan Chase & Co raised its stock estimate. Woodside Petroleum Ltd, Australia's second-biggest oil explorer, jumped the most in a week.

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd dropped the most in two weeks in Hong Kong after Goldman Sachs Group Inc cut its target price for the stock, citing fuel prices, Bloomberg News reported.

"You're seeing some re-rating" in electronics, said Jason Lee, who helps oversee the equivalent of US$2.1 billion as general manager of equities at Amanah Raya-JMF Asset Management in Kuala Lumpur. Higher crude oil is "bad for airlines," he said. "No matter how much you hedge, you'll be hit."

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.7 percent to 143.85 as of 7:20pm in Tokyo. Nine of the index's 10 industry groups advanced. The measure has fallen 8.8 percent this year on concerns the US economy will slip into a recession. About six stocks declined yesterday for every five that rose.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 1.3 percent to 12,945.30. Toshiba Corp, Japan's largest supplier of nuclear reactors, climbed after saying it's in talks to build two plants in Florida.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.8 percent, led by financial shares, after Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and two others were shortlisted to bid for Wing Lung Bank Ltd.