Asian Markets: Eternite scores in Hong Kong IPO

In Asia Wednesday, the Nikkei Index gained 1.1 percent to close at 9,800 and the Hang Seng Index rose 2.1 percent to close at 21,242 -- Hong Kong's biggest gain in three weeks.

In Japan, banking shares were on the rise as positive sentiment about the U.S. financial sector grew. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. (SMFJY) surged 7 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MTU), climbed 5.3 percent and Mizuho Financial Group (MFG) rose 2.7 percent. Nomura Holdings (NMR), the country's biggest brokerage, added 1.3 percent.