Asian markets rose modestly Wednesday after an overnight surge on Wall Street 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 239.08 points, or 1.9 percent, to 13,091.03, while Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average added 23.04 points, or 0.3 percent, to 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 where it also decided to keep its key interest rate at 0.1 percent. The Bank of Japan also said it was considering providing loans to commercial banks as an option to shore up their capital bases.