Japanese stocks were nudged higher by earnings-related news on Wednesday, although many investors remained on the sidelines ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision later in the day and a Bank of Japan review on Friday.
The Nikkei share average ended 0.7 per cent higher at 18,903.02.
The broader Topix added 0.3 per cent to 1,547.19, with only 1.72 billion shares changing hands, the lowest since mid-August.
The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 rose 0.3 per cent to 13,874.09.