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MELBOURNE, June 2 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell to more than three week lows on Thursday, as market sentiment soured after weak Chinese economic data and on expectations that Australia may delay widely expected interest rate cuts. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO dropped 0.8 percent, or 44.3 points, to 5,278.9 at the close of trade. At one point, the index hit 5,270.90 - its weakest since May 9. The benchmark fell 1 percent on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 eased by 0.3 percent or 19.3 points to finish the session at 7,003.12.