MT Newswires -ShutterstockNew Zealand shares ended lower on Thursday as Asian markets showed a broad-based decline amid the US Federal Reserve's decision to hold rates and Wednesday's Wall Street sell-off. On Wednesday, the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.7%, the S&P500 declined 1.5%, and the Dow Jones lost 2.2%. The Federal Reserve held its policy rate steady in a divided decision that included three officials calling for policy tightening. The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee maintained the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75%, marking its fifth consecutive pause. In corporate news, Freightways Group (NZE:FRW, ASX:FRW) appointed board member David Gibson as chair to succeed Mark Cairns, effective Thursday.