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By Aamir Khalid

June 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares snapped a four-session winning streak on Thursday, after a hawkish tilt by the U.S. Federal Reserve fuelled expectations of a rate hike and sapped investor appetite.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended 0.6% lower at 8,911.10 points.

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh kept rates steady on Wednesday, but the central bank's new projections showed officials expect a hike in borrowing costs later this year amid increasing inflation concerns. This mirrored caution from the Reserve Bank of Australia, which held rates this week while leaving the door open to further hikes.

"Investors reacted negatively to the Fed's hawkish hold...within Australia, miners and financials have weighed on the index pointing to some near-term caution," said Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at Global X ETFs.

"The Fed reminded investors that rate cuts are far from guaranteed...the market is adjusting to a world where central banks are keeping one foot on the brake rather than preparing to accelerate."

Miners and banks led losses in Sydney on Thursday.

Miners .AXMM fell 1.4%, dragged down by weaker iron ore prices. IRONORE/

Sector giant BHP Group BHP.AX slipped 0.8%, a day after it set a record high.

Banks .AXFJ shed 0.5% after Morningstar lowered its 2027 profit forecasts for Australian lenders. NAB NAB.AX, Australia's top business lender, slipped 0.9%.

Globally, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to resume attacks on Iran if it failed to honour the signed interim ceasefire deal, casting doubts on the durability of the pact.

"The deal lowers the temperature but doesn't eliminate the fire risk, with markets still conscious that negotiations remain ongoing and the threat of renewed conflict hasn't disappeared," Jocum added.

Energy stocks .AXEJ fell 1.2% after oil prices slipped more than $1 per barrel. O/R

Gold stocks .AXGD declined 1.8% and tech stocks .AXIJ dipped 1.4%.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.2% to 13,363.31 points. Official data showed New Zealand's economy picked up slightly in the first quarter.