Asian Stocks Trading Mostly Higher

By Jeremiah Marquez

HONG KONG -- Asian stocks were mostly higher Friday as a string of upbeat U.S. economic reports reinforced hopes of a recovery in the world's largest economy and helped arrest the region's four-day slide.

But gains across Asia were tentative as investors tread cautiously amid expectations that stocks could fall further after their steep rise since March. Oil prices were slightly higher and the dollar fell.

Buoying sentiment were U.S. government data showing the number of people drawing unemployment benefits dropped last week for the first time since early January, snapping a series of 21 straight increases. ...