Carmakers, commodities knock Europe stocks lower

* FTSEurofirst 300 ends 1.5 pct lower

* Auto stocks tumble after Daimler, Renault cut forecasts

* TNT plunges 16 pct on report FedEx talks called off

By Blaise Robinson

PARIS, July 24 (Reuters) - European stocks fell on Thursday, surrendering most of the previous day's gains as cuts in annual forecasts from Daimler (DAIGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Renault (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) hit autos and weakening commodities dragged oils and miners lower.

Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) surged 5.3 percent after posting forecast-beating earnings, but this failed to spark a rally in the banking sector , which lost 0.6 percent.

Dutch mail company TNT NV (TNT.AS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) plunged 16 percent in late trade after the Wall Street Journal reported that takeover talks with FedEx (FDX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) had ended.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 1.5 percent lower at 1,170.80 points. The index, which is down 22 percent year-to-date, rose 2.1 percent on Wednesday.