Friday's Asia Stocks Recap

Stocks in India put in a strong showing Friday, bouncing of a six-month low established in the previous trading session. The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index roared higher by 403.17 points, or 2.6%, to 15,760.52.

Value investors helped lead the rally in the Far East as market players continue to pick through the rubble to find high-quality stocks on sale. India's benchmark index has plunged more than 20% since January.

"Today's rise was more of a technical bounceback. Markets are still nervous and the outlook remains more negative than positive," said Nipun Mehta, chief executive at Unitis Tower Wealth Advisors.

The bounce overseas did little to help Indian ADRs on the U.S. stock exchanges. Indian closed-end management funds and exchange-traded funds fell across the board with The India Fund (IFN Quote) dropping 4.9% to $43.72; Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund (IIF Quote) losing 3.7% to $37.26; and WisdomTree Trust (EPI Quote) falling 2.9% to $22.27.

Indian automaker Tata Motors (TTM Quote) is looking to open up a vehicle assembly plant in South Africa, according to ndtvprofit.com. Tata plans to invest $100 million into the project and looks to have it up and running by 2010. ADR shares of Tata Motors fell 2.2% to $15.43.

One of the few Indian ADRs to advance was information technology firm Patni Computer Systems (PTI Quote). ADR shares of Patni traded higher by almost 3% to close at $10.69.

Leading the trend lower among the Indian ADRs were Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTE Quote), trading off 7% to $4.81; Tata Communications (TCL Quote), falling 5% to $22.88; and Icici Bank (IBN Quote), finishing down 4.5% to $40.34.

Be sure to check out the Far East Portfolio at Stockpickr.com every night to find out which stocks in India and China are making big moves and announcing major news.

China Recap

Asian markets finished the week on a sour note Friday as investors continued to sell equities in the face of inflation and economic growth concerns. China's Shanghai Composite Index lost 8.58 points, or 0.2%, to 3,962.67, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index plunged 64.53 points, or 0.3%, to 22.237.11.

"It seems that the market isn't likely to make a comeback until the government raises the interest rate," said Wu Kan, at Dazhong Insurance Co. in Shanghai.

Chinese telecommunications company Hutchison Telecommunications International (HTX Quote) received an upgrade from Goldman Sachs from neutral to buy and price target increase from $25 to $26. Goldman also added Hutchison to its "Conviction List." ADR shares of Hutchison finished up 4% at $21.36.

Hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin, who runs Citadel Investment Group, issued a 13G filing that disclosed a 5.4% stake in Chinese alternative energy company Trina Solar (TSL Quote). ADR shares of Trina Solar closed 3.4% lower at $30.68.

The Chinese oil and gas sector was hit hard Friday after a number of analysts issued some cautios comments on PetroChina (PTR Quote). Lehman Brothers analyst Cheng Khoo said, "PetroChina's earnings are likely to disappoint the market because we think consensus estimates are too optimistic." BNP Paribas analyst Bradley Way said, "$100 oil meant a net loss for PetroChina because refining losses would exceed the gains from exploration and production."