Banks lead European shares to three-week high

* FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index up 0.8 percent

* ING, Credit Agricole gain after results

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By Brian Gorman

LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - European shares gained in early trade on Wednesday, with France's Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) among banks gaining after reporting results, and with sentiment lifted by upbeat Chinese data. At 0916 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.8 percent at 1,018.06 points, after hitting a three-week high of 1,018.73.

The European benchmark is up more than 57 percent from its lifetime low of March 9 as investors have become more confident on the prospects for economic recovery.

Credit Agricole, France's biggest retail bank, rose 4.4 percent after posting a widely-expected fall in third-quarter profit on Tuesday after European markets closed. Italian banks UniCredit (CRDI.MI) and Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI) were up 0.5 and 1.4 percent respectively after results.

Other banks to gain included BBVA (BBVA.MC), BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), HSBC (HSBA.L) and Societe Generale (SOGN.PA), up 1.2-1.8 percent. Dutch bancassurer ING (ING.AS) rose 4.8 percent after posting hird-quarter profit in line with preannounced results.