Tokyo, Rabi'II 19, 1437, Jan 29, 2016, SPA -- Japanese stocks ended sharply higher after a volatile session Friday with sentiment buoyed by a weaker yen and the Bank of Japan's decision to introduce negative interest rates to boost the world's third-largest economy, dpa reported. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 476.85 points, or 2.8 per cent, to end at 17,518.3 after falling 1.6 per cent earlier in the day. The broader Topix index was up 39.97 points, or 2.87 per cent, at 1,432.07. On Friday, export-linked stocks traded broadly higher as the bank's decision prompted the yen to fall sharply against major currencies. A weaker yen makes Japanese goods more competitive overseas and improves repatriated revenues. --SPA 10:18 LOCAL TIME 07:18 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w