Reuters Finance News, Australia

(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 (ASX: 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)