Asian Real Estate Shares Gain on Li Recommendation; Sony Falls

May 22 (Bloomberg) -- Asian financial and real estate stocks rose after billionaire Li Ka-shing recommended property investments, countering slumps by electronics and mining shares.

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., the world’s biggest developer by value, gained 3.3 percent in Hong Kong after Li said real- estate investors are “sure to make money” in the next three- to-four years. Sony Corp., the maker of Bravia televisions, slipped 1.4 percent as the yen strengthened to a two-month high against the dollar. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, retreated 2.2 percent in Sydney after oil and copper prices sank yesterday.

Five stocks declined for every three that advanced on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index, which added 0.2 percent to 99.88 as of 12:38 p.m. in Tokyo. The gauge was boosted by the strengthening yen, which increased the value of Japanese stocks on the dollar- denominated index. The index is up 2.7 percent this week, having risen 41 percent from a five-year low on March 9.

“The rebound up until this point has been driven by two factors -- a feeling that the worst is over and improving economic indicators,” said Takashi Kamiya, chief economist at T&D Asset Management Co., which oversees about $16 billion. “The million-dollar question going forward is whether data such as U.S. production numbers can continue to improve. I doubt it.”

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average was little changed, as was Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index. Rio Tinto Group led declines in Australia after the Financial Times said Aluminum Corp. of China won’t agree to a stake of less than 15 percent in the company.

Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia’s largest gold producer, rose 1.5 percent as investors sought haven in the precious metal.

Futures on the U.S. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.4 percent. The gauge declined 1.7 percent yesterday as a Labor Department report showed initial jobless claims fell by 12,000 to 631,000 in the week ended May 16, while economists had expected claims would drop to 625,000. The previous week’s figures were revised higher.