Asian stocks hit two-year high

In its latest note, EPFR Global said emerging market equity funds ended September with their 18th consecutive week of net inflows. So far in 2010, inflows are 87% of last year's record $44.2bn. Markets were also boosted by strong Chinese manufacturing data released last Friday. The purchasing managers' index rose to 53.8, beating expectations of a reading of 52 and reassuring investors about the strength of the world's second largest economy. The MSCI index of Asian stocks outside Japan advanced 0.5% to the highest level since June 2008. Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index jum...