* FTSEurofirst 300 down 0.2 pct, halts two-day winning run
* Greece fears return; credit derivatives indexes widen
* Renault falls, Daimler inch higher on deal news
* For up-to-the-minute market news, click on []
By Blaise Robinson
PARIS, April 7 (Reuters) - European stocks fell in early
trade on Wednesday, led by heavyweight mining and banking
shares, halting a two-session rally as renewed concerns over
Greece's finances rattled investors ahead of euro zone GDP data.
Renault <RENA.PA> dropped 1.4 percent, while Daimler
<DAIGn.DE> added 0.2 percent after the two carmakers and
Renault's partner Nissan Motor <7201.T> unveiled a partnership
deal to swap stakes and jointly develop cars.
At 0800 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 <> index of top
European shares was down 0.2 percent at 1,099.78 points.
Europe's benchmark index, which hit an 18-month closing high
for a second session in a row on Tuesday, is up 5.3 percent so
far this year.
"The rebound in the United States is well supported by a
strong economic recovery, but it's more complicated in Europe,
and the recent gains remain fragile," said Christian Jimenez,
fund manager and president of Diamant Bleu Gestion in Paris.
"The weaker euro might have had some positive effects, but
it's definitively not favorable to investments and risk taking.
I remain bullish on stocks, but vigilant and ready to get out if
the wind changes direction."
The euro drifted lower again on Wednesday, as renewed Greek
debt worries weighed on the currency.
Concerns over Greece's capacity to resolve its debt crisis
resurfaced after reports the country was seeking to amend a
safety net from the European Union and International Monetary
Fund.
European credit derivatives indexes widened, with the
investment-grade Markit iTraxx Europe index <ITEEU5Y=MG> at 78
basis points on Wednesday morning, according to data from
Markit. That is 1.5 basis points wider than late on Tuesday,
according to data from BGC Partners.
The Markit iTraxx Crossover index <ITEXO5Y=MG>, made up of
50 mostly "junk"-rated credits, was at 423.25 basis points, 6.25
basis points wider.
Heavyweight banking shares lost ground, with BNP Paribas
<BNPP.PA> down 1.2 percent, UBS <UBSN.VX> down 1.6 percent,
Societe Generale <SOGN.PA> down 1.4 percent and Banco Popolare
<BAPO.MI> down 1.3 percent.
Hedge fund firm Man Group <EMG.L> soared 6.6 percent,
reaching a more than two-month high after its main fund AHL
posted a 3.8 percent rise in net asset value last week.
Mining shares fell along with copper prices. BHP Billiton
<BLT.L> dropped 2.1 percent, Antofagasta <ANTO.L> slipped 1.8
percent and Eurasian <ENRC.L> shed 1.2 percent.
Around Europe, the UK's FTSE 100 index <> was down 0.3
percent, Germany's DAX index <> down 0.1 percent, and
France's CAC 40 <> had shed 0.2 percent.
On the upside, Nokia <NOK1V.HE> added 1.2 percent after UBS
upgraded its recommendation on the stock to "buy" from
"neutral".
(Editing by Will Waterman)
