Weak Chinese growth figures and a further slide in consumer confidence locally helped drive the Australian share market to its third straight loss.

The All Ordinaries index closed 39 points lower at 5,877 and the ASX 200 fell 38 points to end the session at 5,908.

The market opened lower despite overnight gains on Wall Street, with the losses only intensifying as the poor economic data rolled in.

First came the Westpac - Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment, showing a further fall in confidence.

Next was official data showing Chinese economic growth slowed to an annual rate of 7 per cent in the March quarter, the nation's slowest since 2009.

While the reading was in line with analyst predictions and the Chinese government's own growth target, investors reacted poorly, particularly to significantly weaker than expected industrial output.

On the local market, finance and retail stocks were the hardest hit, including the big four banks.

Westpac lost 1.6 per cent, the Commonwealth 1.5 per cent, ANZ 1.1 per cent and NAB 1 per cent

read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-15/chinese-growth-figures-consumer-confidence-local-market-loss/6395574