Asian shares fell Wednesday amid concerns that higher-than-expected US inflation could trigger rate hikes. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index shed 0.1 percent to 16,644.69. 

    The Shanghai Composite index dropped 1.9 percent to 2,788.20 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.7 percent to 19,786.00.

    South Korea's Kospi lost 0.6 percent to 1,956.73. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7 percent to 5,356.20. The dollar was flat at 109.14 yen on Wednesday, while the euro slipped to $1.1285 from $1.1314.