European shares get Intel, Goldman, oil boost

* FTSEurofirst 300 index up 1.7 pct; gains for 3rd day

* Forecast-beating results boost financial, tech shares

* Energy, mining equities surge on firm commodity prices

* For up-to-the-minute market news, click on [STXNEWS/EU]

By Atul Prakash

LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - European equities advanced for a third straight session to hit a two-week high on Wednesday as reassuring results from Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Intel (INTC.O) boosted banking and tech shares, while oils tracked crude higher.

At 1128 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 1.6 percent at 853.82 points after rising as high as 856.20, the highest level since July 2.

The benchmark index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008 due to the credit crisis, rose 1.2 percent in the previous session and has gained 32 percent since hitting a record low on early March.

Financial stocks were among the top gainers, with HSBC (HSBA.L), Barclays (BARC.L), Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L), Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) and KBC Groep (KBC.BR) jumping 3.3-7.4 percent.

"The market is prepared to shake off weak economic data and preferring to focus on consensus breaking results and upbeat outlook form corporates," said Henk Potts, equity strategist at Barclays Stockbrokers.

"There are some longer term factors to take into account, but certainly in the short term the direction of the markets will be determined by the percentage of companies that either meet or exceed analysts' expectations."

Sentiment improved after Goldman Sachs pleased investors on Tuesday with better-than-expected results.Intel Corp's (INTC.O) quarterly results and outlook also trumped analyst forecasts on better-than-expected consumer demand for PCs.

However, some analysts advised caution. Marie-Pierre Peillon, head of equity and credit research at Groupama Asset Management, said that Goldman's strong results are not necessarily a preview of what to expect from all the banks, said

"We're in the process of making the distinction between the winners and the losers. Goldman is one of the winners, but other banks are still struggling," she said.

Economic data also highlighted difficult conditions. British unemployment hit its highest rate since January 1997 in the three months to May, although the number of people claiming jobless benefit rose by much less than expected last month. [ID:nLF150992]