Japan's Nikkei 225 index closed more than 1 higher after the Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged at its final policy meeting of the year. The BOJ kept its negative interest rate of -0.1 and yield curve control policy. The central bank continued its negative interest rate policy and upheld its yield curve control policy without any changes. The Japanese yen depreciated by 0.6 against the US dollar following the announcement, trading at 143.70.