Shares in Asia-Pacific were mostly lower on Friday as investors reacted to developments from the Bank of Japan.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 43.28 points, or 0.2%, to 26,763.39.
The Bank of Japan on Friday announced a six-month extension of its special program aimed at easing corporate financing pressures amid the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the yield target on the 10-year Japan government bond was set at around 0% while the short-term interest target was set to -0.1%.
The Japanese central bank also said it will "conduct an assessment for further effective and sustainable monetary easing" as it looks to support the economy and achieve its ever elusive inflation target, with the findings likely to be out in March.
Following the BOJ’s announcement, the Japanese yen traded at 103.39 per dollar, having seen levels above 103.8 against the greenback earlier in the trading week.
Rising coronavirus cases in certain parts of North Asia may also have weighed on investor sentiment.
Japan’s capital Tokyo on Thursday saw a record number of new infections, with the metropolitan government raising its alert for the strain on the medical system to the highest level, according to Kyodo News.
Over in South Korea, local news agency Yonhap reported Thursday that daily new coronavirus cases crossed the 1,000 level for the second day in a row.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 179.78 points, or 0.7%, to 26,498.60.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.76, after trading at levels around $0.763 earlier in the week.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 lost 17.51 points, or 0.4%, to 4,999.97
In Korea, the Kospi index edged forward 1.75 points, or 0.1%, to 2,772.16
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index ditched 8.97 points, or 0.1%, to 14,249.96.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index dumped 9.04 points, or 0.3%, to 2,848.98.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slumped 206.77 points, or 1.6%, to 12,682.
In Australia, the ASX 200 slipped 81.2 points, or 1.2%, to 6,675.47.
