The key Nikkei stock index rose slightly Wednesday in directionless trade, with support from some resource shares on record-high gold prices, while investors await the U.S. Federal Reserve's comments on the U.S. economy after a two-day policy meeting.

Erasing early losses, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 41.36 points, or 0.42 percent, to 9,844.31 from Monday's three-week closing low. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 0.73 point, or 0.08 percent, to 881.27.

Decliners were led by securities, banking and metal product issues. Major gainers included the nonferrous metal, pulp and paper, and oil and coal product sectors.

The Japanese market saw few trading cues after closing Tuesday for a national holiday, although some buying helped sustain the Nikkei's recovery into positive territory in late afternoon trade as some investors felt stocks were oversold, brokers said. The benchmark index lost more than 5 percent over the week through Monday.

Resource-related stocks, such as nonferrous metal issues, advanced after gold futures surged to record highs Tuesday in New York. Strong runs in Hong Kong and other major Asian markets also helped buoy market sentiment, a Japanese brokerage strategist said.

Sumitomo Metal Mining climbed 37 yen, or over 2 percent, to 1,476 yen, and Asahi Holdings, a precious metal recycling firm, jumped 79 yen, or over 5 percent, to 1,592 yen.

"But on the whole, investors are finding it difficult to make aggressive moves, as they want to first see Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's statement later today on the Federal Open Market Committee's assessment of the U.S. economic outlook, as well as upcoming U.S. jobs figures," said Hiroichi Nishi, Nikko Cordial Securities Inc. equity manager.

Market attention is also focused on the policy meetings of the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, respectively, over the next two days as investors watch for monetary policy changes, brokers said.

On the First Section, declining issues outpaced advancing ones 810 to 733, with 144 others remaining unchanged.

Bridge builders surged on speculation of demand for road repair works after a news report said some 121 bridges across Japan are on the verge of collapsing, brokers said. Japan Bridge rose by its daily limit of 50 yen, or almost 29 percent, to 223 yen to become the day's largest percentage gainer.

Other notable gainers included Fast Retailing, up 670 yen, or over 4 percent, to 15,790 on a surge in October sales at its Uniqlo casual clothing stores.

Among the dark spots, bank shares slumped as worries about stricter capital requirements linger. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, the morning value leader, lost 9 yen, or almost 2 percent, to 480 yen. Volume leader Mizuho Financial Group fell 3 yen, also about 2 percent, to 180 yen.

Semiconductor shares tracked their U.S. peers' weakness, with Tokyo Electron dropping 260 yen, or about 5 percent, to 4,850 yen.

Trading was thin, with volume on the main section coming to 1,684.16 million shares, down from Monday's 1,811.59 million.

The TSE's Second Section index was down 3.42 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,157.04 on a volume of 125.45 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term December Nikkei 225 index futures contract was down 10 points to 9,820.