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Australia shares fall ahead of China PMI, Reserve Bank meeting

(Adds analysis, quotes, stocks on the move)

SYDNEY, April 1 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell 0.6 percent on Tuesday, with the morning session characterized by cautious trade ahead of a key China factory activity survey and the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy meeting.

The 'Big Four' banks lost ground with Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking Corp falling 0.7 percent each. Mid-tier Bank of Queensland Ltd (Other OTC: BKQNY - news) declined 0.8 percent.

Asian stocks were sluggish, "suggesting most are watching the (China) data today before reinstating trades for the new quarter," Evan Lucas, market analyst from IG (LSE: IGG.L - news) .

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A recent string of weak data in China, Australia's biggest export market, has stoked speculation Beijing will take steps to stimulate the economy. Any signs of further weakness in a survey of Chinese manufacturing activity due around 0100 GMT will likely add to the case for stimulus.

A Reuters poll showed the median forecast of 14 economists is a rise to 50.3 from February's 50.2.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 34.2 points to 5,360.6 by 0057 GMT. The benchmark added 0.5 percent on Monday and rose 0.8 percent for the first quarter of 2014.

Volume was light, with 174.1 million shares trading hands by 0032 GMT, compared to a daily moving average of 630.2 million shares so far in 2014.

The benchmark hit a 5-1/2 year high of 5,462.3 points on March 7, but has since drifted lower as geopolitical tension in Ukraine and fears about slowing growth in China have cooled investor interest.

Besides the China manufacturing survey, investors will also watch out for comments from the RBA's policy meeting which concludes later in the day.

All 20 economists polled by Reuters see the RBA keeping the cash rate on hold at a record low of 2.5 percent.

Resource stocks eased as copper fell overnight due to China's tighter credit conditions even as speculation grew that Beijing would move to stimulate its economy. Among miners, Independence Group (Frankfurt: IDZ.F - news) tumbled 3.1 percent and BHP Billiton (NYSE: BBL - news) Ltd slipped 0.6 percent.

Bullion producers Newcrest Mining Ltd and Regis Resources Ltd lost 3 percent and 6 percent after gold fell, notching its first monthly decline this year.

Defensives were on the backfoot with Australia's largest telecommunications provider Telstra Corporation Ltd dropping 1 percent and biotechnology firm CSL Ltd (Other OTC: CMXHF - news) slipping 0.5 percent.

Lynas Corporation Ltd climbed 2.4 percent after reporting higher production and sales in the March quarter, in line with guidance.

Ten Network Holdings Ltd tumbled 5.5 percent after the television station recorded its lowest ever weekly audience share for prime time.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index slipped 0.4 percent to 5,117.6.

(Reporting by Thuy Ong; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)