European shares extend gains; banks, oils lead

LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - European shares extended gains on Friday as oil shares rose tracking firmer crude prices and banking shares advanced.

At 0918 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 1.1 percent at 789.47 points after rising as high as 792.94 points earlier in the session. Bank of Ireland (BKIR.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) was up 12 percent, while BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Anglo Irish Bank (ANGL.I: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Banco Santander (SAN.MC: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Barclays (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), HSBC (HSBA.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and UBS UBS.AG were up between 1.3 and 6 percent.

(Reporting by Brian Gorman)