European shares higher as financials, miners gain

* FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index rises 0.8 pct

* Financials gain after ING, Credit Agricole results

* For the latest stocks news click on [STXNEWS/EU]

By Joanne Frearson

LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - European shares were higher at midday on Wednesday, led by financials after results from French bank Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) and Dutch bancassurer ING Groep (ING.AS).

By 1138 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares was up 0.8 percent at 1,018.61 points after earlier touching a three-week high of 1,022.70.

The index is up nearly 58 percent since reaching a record low in early March and has gained 22 percent for the year.

"There are signs of gradual economic rival coupled with low levels of inflation. It is just a favourable environment for risky assets and risk taking," said Jeremy Batstone-Carr, head of research at Charles Stanley.