(Reuters) - Australian shares were likely to fall on Thursday, weighed down by energy stocks, as a surprise rise in U.S. crude inventories hit oil prices and raised concerns over global demand outlook.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Reserve left its key interest rates on hold on Wednesday, in line with expectations, but signalled that borrowing costs are likely to remain unchanged indefinitely.
The local share price index futures <YAPcm1> fell 0.4%, a 27.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> close. The benchmark rose 0.7% on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> was down 0.1% by 2109 GMT.
(Reporting by Niyati Shetty in Bengaluru)
