* ASX down over 1%, led by miners
* Caution prevails before Australian and NZ central bank meetings
* Lynas leads ASX losses on report of Malaysian licence lurdles
By Devika Syamnath
August 5 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell more than 1% on Monday, extending losses into a fourth session, with mining stocks hit the most after an escalation in Sino-U.S. trade tensions raised concerns about the global economic growth outlook.
Risk markets have suffered since U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly said last week that the United States would slap 10% tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods, ending a month-long trade truce and prompting China, Australia's top trading partner, to warn it would retaliate. MKTS/GLOB
The S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO was 1.2%, or 81.1 points, lower at 6,687.5. It fell 0.3% on Friday.
"Given the pressure and the nervousness towards the end of last week about (the) growth outlook, ... it is no surprise seeing cautious trading and pressure on the market ahead of all the economic events," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.
The central banks in Australia and New Zealand review interest rates this week, and China is expected to issue July trade and inflation data.
ANZ Research said in a note it no longer expected the Australian central bank to cut interest rates, though easing in coming months was likely. A 25-basis-point cut from New Zealand "is certain," the note said.
Australia's mining stocks .AXMM fell as much as 2.4%, as iron ore and copper prices dropped sharply on concerns the escalation in the U.S.-China trade war will dampen demand. IRONORE/ MET/L
The world's biggest miner, BHP Group BHP.AX , lost as much as 3.1% as it fell to its lowest level in nearly two months, while Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX hits its weakest level in three months.
Rare earths miner Lynas Corp LYC.AX was set for its worst session in five weeks on reports of new hurdles to obtaining a licence permit for its Malaysian plant, its latest in a long-running tussle with the Southeast Asia country over how to deal with radioactive waste at the plant. companies .AXEJ also weakened, with Santos Ltd STO.AX and Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX giving up 0.5% and 1%, respectively.
Oil Search OSH.AX bucked the trend, gaining as much as 4% after the Papua New Guinea government signalled its backing for a liquefied natural gas deal with French oil major Total SA TOTF.PA . Oil Search is a partner in the project. stocks such as Stockland Corporation SGP.AX and WFD Unibail Rodamco NV URW.AX also climbed, as much as 1.1% and 2.4%, respectively.
McCarthy attributed this to the defensive nature of these stocks amid a "clear focus on steady earnings streams."
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ticked down 0.6% to 10,800.14 at 0156 GMT.
Dairy products maker A2 Milk Co ATM.NZ led losses, giving up as much as 2.2%.