Asian stocks recouped losses and oil rebounded from a three-month low on signs a manufacturing slump is easing in China. Australia's dollar strengthened on a report inflation quickened.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was 0.04 percent higher as of 1:11 p.m. in Tokyo, having earlier dropped as much as 0.6 percent. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures added 0.6 percent after the gauge yesterday closed at a seven-week low. Crude climbed 0.6 percent in New York, following a 2.3 percent loss, while copper added 0.7 percent. The so-called Aussie appreciated 0.5 percent to $1.0315, snapping a four-day drop.

Investors trimmed bets the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut interest rates after consumer prices gained more than forecast. A purchasing managers' index signaling a smaller contraction in China's manufacturing stoked speculation the economy is stabilizing after exports and investment picked up last month. Stocks fell earlier following disappointing earnings at companies from DuPont Co. to Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. fanned concern the global economy is losing momentum.

"China's economy is recovering but at a very slow pace and there's no sign of a big pickup in growth," said Wang Zheng, Shanghai-based chief investment officer at Jingxi Investment Management Co., which manages about $120 million.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Composite Index rose for an 11th day, the longest winning streak since 2005, and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.3 percent.

About the same number of shares rose as fell on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index. (MXAP) The gauge has advanced 12 percent since reaching this year's low on June 4 as stimulus measures in the U.S., Japan and China boosted market sentiment amid a global slowdown and Europe's debt crisis.

Kawasaki Heavy
Kawasaki Heavy sank 5.1 percent in Tokyo after the gas- turbine maker said first-half operating profit missed its forecasts by almost half on slowing sales in China and Europe. SK Hynix Inc. gained 4.6 percent in Seoul after the world's second-largest maker of computer memory chips reported its first profit in four quarters on lower costs and currency gains.

Of the 62 companies in Asia's benchmark equity index that reported quarterly earnings since Oct. 1, more than half missed analyst projections for profit, while almost two-thirds lagged sales estimates, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. More than 100 companies in Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are scheduled to post results this week. after commodities erased this year's gains.

China Manufacturing
Oil and metals gained after today's China PMI data, which is based on a survey by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics. The preliminary reading for the index was 49.1, compared with a final reading of 47.9 last month. A number below 50 signals contraction.

Crude rose to $87.14 a barrel from $86.67, which was the lowest close since July 10. The Energy Department will report today that U.S. crude supplies climbed for a third week, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts. Gasoline added 0.5 percent, snapping a nine-day slide, the longest losing streak in 25 years. Copper advanced for the first time in five days.

The Australian dollar climbed against the greenback for the first day in five after the nation's consumer price index advanced 1.4 percent last quarter, compared with a forecast 1 percent increase. Traders priced in a 77 percent chance of a rate reduction on Nov. 6, down from 95 percent yesterday, swaps data compiled by Bloomberg showed after the figures were released.

Currency Intervention
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority sold the city's currency for the second day in a week yesterday to halt appreciation and maintain a 29-year-old peg to the U.S. dollar. The currency was at HK$7.7502 versus the greenback, near the strong end of its allowed trading range of HK$7.75 to HK$7.85, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

"They will have no choice but to keep intervening," said Irene Cheung, a currency strategist in Singapore at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group. "The Hong Kong dollar's strength reflects the capital flows we see into most Asian currencies."

The euro maintained losses against most of its major peers before data that may add to evidence Europe's debt turmoil continues to weigh on economic growth. The 17-nation currency traded at $1.2987 after yesterday touching $1.2952, the weakest since Oct. 16.

Reports today are forecast to show manufacturing and services industries in the euro area contracted for a ninth month and German business confidence hovered close to the lowest since February 2010. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said there is a case for easing budget-deficit targets after the central bank yesterday said the euro area's fourth-largest economy shrank for a fifth quarter.

"We would see a bit more downside in the near term for the euro," said Imre Speizer, a strategist in Auckland at Westpac Banking Corp., Australia's second-largest lender. "Economic numbers are hurting the euro and the lack of a Spanish bailout is also hurting."