Australia shares gain for first day in 4; NZ also up

* Aussie and NZ shares of a2 Milk among top gainers on bothbenchmarks

* CBA, NAB and Westpac reverse trend to end higher(Updates to close)

By Susan Mathew

April 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares snapped a three-daylosing streak to end higher on Wednesday as real estate andconsumer stocks perked up after positive home building andretail sales data.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 0.2 percent, or 9.5points, at 5,761.4.

Investors bought real estate stocks after data showed thatthough approvals to build new homes eased 6.2 percent inFebruary, overall home building is holding up better than manyanalysts had expected, with strength showing through in detachedhouses where approvals hit their highest in almost two years.

Mall operator stocks Scentre Group and propertydeveloper Mirvac Group rose 2.4 percent and 1.4percent, respectively.

Consumer stocks took heart from data showing that Australianretail sales rebounded, beating expectations, a sign thatconsumers may be coming out of the doldrums and contribute toeconomic growth.

Infant formula maker Bellamy's Australia, up 7.1percent, and dairy company a2 Milk, up 5.1 percent,were the top gainers on the benchmark.

Three of the 'Big four' were back in the black, after havingfallen earlier in the session, ending 0.3 percent to 0.8 percenthigher, while ANZ continued to fall.

On the ASX All Ordinaries index, Blue SkyAlternative Investments was the worst performer, down18.6 percent, as it resumed trading after U.S. short-sellerGlaucus Research Group claimed it had overstated its size,exaggerated performance and over-valued assets.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.8percent, or 68.15 points, to finish the session at 8,398.08.

Dairy companies led gains with Synlait Milk rising 4.6percent and a2 Milk gaining 3.6 percent.

Air New Zealand climbed 3.6 percent. The airlinecompany said it would not renew its alliance with VirginAustralia, covering flights between the two countries, ending a7-year alliance between the two companies.

Virgin Australia shares ended 4.4 percent lower after theannouncement.(Reporting by Susan Mathew in Bengaluru; Editing by KimCoghill)