Australia shares 0.5 percent lower;, Centrex leaps

WELLINGTON, Nov 5 - Australian shares extended losses to be 0.5 percent lower on Thursday, with banks and miners mixed amid a market consolidation after strong gains between March and October.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> fell 20.8 points to 4,519.3 at 0242 GMT.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index <.NZ50> was 0.5 percent weaker at 3,152.4.

STOCKS ON THE MOVE

* Shares in iron ore explorer Centrex Metals Ltd <CXM.AX> jumped 9.4 percent to A$0.70 after the Australian government approved a A$271 million investment by China's Wuhan Iron & Steel Group Co.

0234 GMT

* Toll-road operator Transurban <TCL.AX> shares rose 16.9 percent at A$5.13 after it revealed that two Canadian pension funds had made a buy-out approach. It rejected the approach but left the door open to further talks. [ID:nSYD544423]

0234 GMT

* Shares in department store Myer Holdings <MYR.AX> rose as much as 2.3 percent to A$3.90 after it said first quarter sales grew 5.2 percent and it was on track to meet its full-year forecast. [ID:nSYU008997]

2340 GMT

* Fellow department store David Jones saw its stock fall 2.6 percent to A$5.29 in after it said first quarter sales rose 2.2 percent but it was too early to provide updated guidance. [ID:nSYU008996]

2320 GMT

* Shares in mining contractor Leighton Holdings <LEI.AX> gained 2 percent in early trade to A$34.65 after it reported a 10 percent jump in first quarter revenue and maintained its full year profit forecast. [ID:nSYU008995]

2315 GMT