* RBA expected to hold cash rate on Tuesday - Reuters poll

* Real estate firms lose up to 2%

* Banks jump; all top four lenders gain

* NZ50 closes in red for sixth straight day

March 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended marginally higher on Monday, with gains in heavyweight miners and banks countering the losses in real estate stocks, as investors awaited Tuesday's central bank decision, focussing on commentary about policy easing.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 0.1% higher at 7,675.80 points. The benchmark ended 2.3% lower last week, marking its worst week since Sept. 22.

Real estate stocks lost 1.9%, with top firms like Goodman Group, Scentre Group, and Charter Hall Retail REIT declining between 1.1% and 3.6%.

Real estate stocks have been under pressure over the past one year as high interest rates and shift to working from home weighed on commercial real estate owners worldwide.

Citi analysts anticipate a continued fall in Australian real estate firms' asset values in the first half of 2024, but foresee limited further declines in the second half, citing a favourable interest rate outlook globally and locally.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is expected to maintain its key interest rate at a 12-year high of 4.35% for a third consecutive meeting, until at least the end of September, as per a Reuters poll.

"The rates outlook is still important for the equity outlook from both the impact it will have on growth and corporate earnings as well as how it impacts rising equity market valuations," said Kerry Craig, a global market strategist at J.P Morgan.

In Sydney, miners edged 0.1% higher as iron ore extended declines on demand concerns in top consumer China.

Iron ore behemoth Rio Tinto climbed 0.5%.

Financial stocks ended 0.6% higher, with the "Big Four" banks gaining in the 0.5-0.8% range.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.3% to 11,728.01 points at the close of trading, marking its sixth consecutive day of losses. (Reporting by Megha Rani in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil)