LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - European shares were mixed on Thursday, with banks on the back foot following a recent rally while commodity stocks were boosted as Brent crude oil prices hit $50 a barrel for the first time since November.
The STOXX Europe 600 .STOXX was down 0.1 percent at 348.06, with the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 flat. Both indexes hit a 4 week high in the previous session.
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE , France's CAC .FCHI and Germany's DAX .GDAXI were all 0.1 percent higher.
Banks .SX7P fell 1.3 percent after a strong rally on Wednesday, led down by Banco Popular POP.MC which slumped 25 percent after it announced a rights issue plan. Spanish banks Caixabank CABK.MC and Banco de Sabadell .SABE.MC fell 3.4 percent and 4.5 percent respectively.
However, oil companies .SXEP rose 0.6 percent after Brent crude hit $50 dollars a barrel, boosted by a drawdown in crude stocks in the United States last week. Reuters plans to replace intra-day European and UK stock market reports with a Live Markets blog on Eikon (see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets for site in development). In a real-time, multimedia format from 0600 London time through the 1630 closing bell, it will include the best of our market reporting, Stocks Buzz service, Eikon graphics, Reuters pictures, eye-catching research and market zeitgeist. Breaking news and dramatic market moves will continue to be alerted to all clients and we will continue to provide a short opening story and comprehensive closing reports.
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Mike Dolan, Markets Editor EMEA.