Citi boosts Europe shares into positive territory

LONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - European shares broke into positive territory by midday on Friday after forecast-beating results from Citigroup (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research) boosted bank stocks.

Shares in HSBC (HSBA.L: Quote, Profile, Research) were up 3.5 percent, making the bank the largest positive individual weight on the European market, while Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) was up by more than 8 percent and BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) was up 4 percent.

By 1056 GMT the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.3 percent at 1,150.01 points, having fallen earlier by as much as 1.1 percent.

For more on the Citi results, please see [C.N-RTRS-LEN]

(Reporting by Amanda Cooper)