On Wall Street overnight, U.S. indexes posted losses but were still on track for their best monthly performance in four years.
U.S. data released overnight showed U.S. gross domestic product in July-September increased at a 1.5 percent annual rate, just shy of the consensus forecast for 1.6 percent growth and slowing from a 3.9 percent rise in the second quarter.
The U.S. central bank held policy steady on Wednesday and left the door open to hike interest rates for the first time since 2006 at its Dec. 15-16 meeting.
That signal comes amid growing anxiety over a slowdown in global growth, with signs of waning momentum in China in particular stoking volatility in global markets in recent months.
Markets in China edged higher, while shares of baby goods-related companies outperformed after China's ruling Communist Party said on Thursday it would ease family planning restrictions to allow two children for all couples.
The dollar extended losses after the BOJ policy decision, slipping to an intraday low of 120.29, and was last down about 0.1 percent at 120.99 yen JPY=. But it was still up about 0.9 percent for the month against the backdrop of divergent monetary policy expectations.
The euro's trend was similar, with the single currency up abut 0.1 percent against the dollar at $1.0988 EUR= but down about 1.7 percent for the month in which European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi took a surprisingly dovish stance that suggested further monetary easing steps were possible in December.
Crude oil futures slipped after the mixed U.S. economic data exacerbated fears of oversupply and as investors took profits following a rally, but they were still on track to end a volatile week with gains.
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