Chinese shares opened lower on Thursday as worries about possible U.S. Federal Reserve rate hikes brought down appetite for Chinese equities.
The Shanghai Composite Index, the main gauge of Chinese stocks, declined 0.4% to 4,094.23. The Shenzhen Component Index slid 0.3% to 15,826.79.
The U.S. Fed kept its interest rate unchanged between 3.5% and 3.75% for the fourth-straight time but signaled that a rate hike is ahead.
The Fed said "inflation remains elevated relative to the Committee's 2% goal" and that it will "deliver price stability."