Australia shares end down on Europe nerves

SYDNEY: Australian shares ended lower on Tuesday on worries the debt crisis in Europe could still spark a meltdown, but uranium companies got a boost on hopes that Australia will lift a ban on uranium exports to India.

Activity was thin, with not even half the average volume trading on several major stocks, including Telstra Corp , Woolworths and Westpac Banking Corp, with investors staying out of the market.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index lost 19 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 4,285.6.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index inched up 0.2 percent to close at 3,37.3.