Asian, European indices flat in lackluster trade

Most Asian and European markets rose modestly yesterday after an overnight surge on Wall Street, while Tokyo shares were buoyed by fresh support for the wobbly financial system from the Japanese central bank.

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 way to shore up their capital bases.