STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Europe stocks up as Wall St gains

Europe stocks stay higher as Wall Street gains in early trade after Intel (INTC.O) reports better-than-expected quarterly results and the New York State manufacturing survey posts its highest reading in more than a year.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares is up 1.8 percent at 855.10 points, while major U.S. indexes .DJI .SPX .IXIC are 1-1.4 percent higher.

Bank stocks are the biggest gainers. HSBC (HSBA.L), Banco Santander (SAN.MC), Barclays (BARC.L), Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) and Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX) are up 1.9-3.4 percent.

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