LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - European shares fell in early trade on Tuesday, with banks lower, as investors awaited more third-quarter results, due later in the week.
At 0708 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.3 percent at 1,002.65 points. On Monday, it rose 0.7 percent to its highest close since Sept. 23, boosted by results at Philips.
The European benchmark index is up more than 55 percent from its lifetime low of March 9, as investors have become more confident on the prospects of economic recovery.
"There may be some corrections in this market, but you're better off being in the market, for further gains," said Bernard McAlinden, investment strategist at NCB Stockbrokers. "Economic data is still OK, and valuations are still OK."
Banks were among those taking most points off the index. BNP Paribas, Banco Santander, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit were 0.6 to 1.4 percent lower.
Whitbread, Britain's biggest hotel and restaurant operator, rose 1 percent after reporting a better-than-expected first-half pretax profit after sales at its Costa Coffee chain rose by over 20 percent. (Reporting by Brian Gorman)