Europe shares extend gains; banks, commods support

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - European equities extended gains in early trade on Tuesday, with commodity shares taking strength from firmer crude and metals prices, while financials rose ahead of key corporate earnings results.

At 0750 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.8 percent at 837.05 points after rising as high as 838.43. The index, which slumped 45 percent in 2008, is up 29 percent since falling to a lifetime low in early March.

Financials gained, with Standard Chartered (STAN.L), HSBC (HSBA.L), Barclays (BARC.L), Lloyds (LLOY.L), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) and BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) up 1.1-2.6 percent. (Reporting by Atul Prakash)