Asian stocks rose for a third day as improved economic indicators pointed to an easing of the U. S. recession and metal prices jumped the most in 10 days.

A gauge of six metals leapt 4.2 percent in London, the steepest climb since June 1, while crude oil for July delivery added 1.9 percent to $72.68 a barrel in New York, the highest settlement since Oct. 20. The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of shipping costs for commodities, gained for the first time in six days with a 0.9 percent advance.

Treasuries rose for a second day after Japanese Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano said his government is confident about the outlook for U. S. government debt. Yields on
10? year notes reached 4 percent today for the first time since October, undermining Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's efforts to cap consumer borrowing costs and pull the economy out of the worst recession in five decades. Ten? year yields have risen over 140 basis points since the Fed announced its $300 billion, six? month Treasury purchase program on March 18.

US Retail sales in May rebounded moderately. Although some of the gain was related to higher gasoline prices. Overall retail sales rebounded 0.5 percent after falling 0.2 percent in April. The May boost was near the consensus forecast for a 0.6 percent increase. The number of initial jobless claims slowed noticeably in the June 6 week, to
601,000 for a 24,000 dip (prior week revised 4,000 higher to 625,000).

China's industrial production rebounded in May, adding to signs that the world's third? biggest economy is recovering from its worst slump in almost a decade. Output rose
8.9 percent from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said today, after gaining 7.3 percent in April. That was more than the 7.7 percent median estimate of 16 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

China's new lending doubled in May from a year earlier, adding to a credit boom that is supporting the government's 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) stimulus plan.

New lending was 664.5 billion yuan, the central bank said on its Web site today.

India's inflation slowed to a three? decade low as the weakest economic growth in seven years sapped domestic demand. Wholesale prices rose 0.13 percent in the week to May 30 from a year earlier after gaining 0.48 percent in the previous week Today IIP figure for April month will be announced and is expected at negative 0.1% growth.