'Big Four' banks lead Australian shares lower

Australian shares fell on Wednesday, weighed down by selling of the "Big Four" banks and growing aversion to riskier assets ahead of a US Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day and the US presidential election next week.
The S&P/ASX 200 index ended down 1.2 percent, or 61.47 point to 5,229. The benchmark fell as much as 1.5 percent at one point to a more than one-month low.
The financial index fell for the fifth time in six sessions, taking its losses for period to about 4.2 percent.
The "Big Four" banks declined between 1.4 percent and 0.8 percent, while Australia's biggest investment bank Macquarie Group touched a one-month low and fell 1.9 percent.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 1.1 percent, or 76.74 points, to finish at 6,853.75. The benchmark hit a four-month low during the session.