Feb 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares were likely set to extend losses into a third consecutive session on Wednesday, with investors focusing on results from blue-chip firms like National Australia Bank NAB.AX and Santos STO.AX.

The local share price index futures YAPcm1 were largely unchanged but trading at a 44-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark ended at its lowest level in two weeks on Tuesday.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.2% in early trading on Wednesday. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is widely expected to slash its key interest rate by 50 basis points later in the day, as per a Reuters poll.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)

((Sameer.Manekar@thomsonreuters.com;))

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