Asian Stocks Post Modest Gains

By Elaine Kurtenbach

SHANGHAI -- Asian markets rose modestly Wednesday after a surge on Wall Street Tuesday boosted sentiment across the region, while Tokyo shares were buoyed by fresh support for the wobbly financial system from the Japanese central bank.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index led the region, gaining 1.9%, while Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average added 0.3% to end at 7,972.17.

The Japanese central bank said it was increasing its purchase of government bonds to keep ample cash in the monetary system following a two-day meeting at which it also decided to keep its key interest rate at 0.1%. The Bank of Japan also said it was considering providing loans to commercial banks as an option to shore up their capital bases. ...