Australia shares jump 1.5 pct on U.S. growth hopes

(Updates to opening)

MELBOURNE, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Australian stocks gained 1.5 percent in early trade on Friday, boosted by solid company earnings and better economic news that sparked a rally on Wall Street.

The benchmark S&P/ASX index <.AXJO> rose 66.6 points to 4,574.6 at 2312 GMT, after losing 0.7 percent on Thursday.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index <.NZ50> rose 0.7 percent to 3,167.5.

Australian toll road operator Transurban Group <TCL.AX> jumped another 3.4 percent after soaring nearly 20 percent on Thursday after it rejected a $4.4 billion buyout approach from two Canadian pension funds, but left the door open to a better offer. [ID:nSYD544423 ] (Reporting by Victoria Thieberger; editing by Jonathan Standing)