News: DOW Australia shares close weaker on Wall Street softness; NZ up

(Updates to close)

March 21 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed marginally lower on Tuesday, taking cues from Wall Street, which dipped over concerns that President Donald Trump's plan to cut taxes and boost the economy could take longer than previously expected.[.N]

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) edged lower by 0.1 percent, or 4.31 points, to 5,774.6 points at the close of trade.

The materials sector was the biggest drag on the index, led by losses in miners BHP Billiton (BHP) and South32 Ltd which fell 1 percent and 2.2 percent respectively.

Sentiment was affected by steel and iron ore futures in China which retreated 3 percent after recent sharp gains. [IRONORE/]

Real estate stocks Scentre Group (SCG) and Goodman Group Pty Ltd (GMG) were also in the red after Australia's central bank warned of growing risks in the hot housing market.

Meanwhile, cleaner-caterer Spotless Group (SPO) jumped 49 percent to close at a five-month high after Downer EDI (DOW) offered to buy the company for A$1.27 billion ($978.5 million).

Despite the overall declines, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a ratio of 1.3-to-1.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) rose 0.4 percent or 28.49 points to finish the session at 7,085.54.

A2 Milk (ATM) was the biggest gainer, rising 4.5 percent to close at an all-time high, after reports that China had backed down on cross border e-commerce laws that had threatened to disrupt the flow of Australian vitamins and milk powder in Chinese markets. ($1 = 1.2979 Australian dollars)