* FTSEurofirst 300 index up 0.1 percent
* Healthcare firms gain; banks slip
* Caution lingers ahead of euro zone rescue fund discussion
By Harpreet Bhal
LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - European shares edged up on Monday, with gains in healthcare stocks just offsetting weak banks in cautious trade ahead of a meeting of finance ministers to discuss changes to euro zone's rescue fund.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top shares closed 0.1 percent higher at 1,156.94 points, in relatively low volumes with U.S. markets closed for a holiday.
Gains in healthcare stocks gave some strength to the index,
with Smith & Nephew
Weak banks capped further gains in the index ahead of the
outcome of the euro zone finance ministers meeting later on
Monday. Peripheral euro zone banks Banco Santander
The finance ministers are set to discuss changes to the effective lending capacity of the European Financial Stability facility (EFSF), though no final decision was expected, with Germany seeing no urgent need to boost the fund's size. [ID:nL3E7CH09B]
"It would be good for the euro zone as a whole if they (the ministers) can calm some of the nerves but by what actions? We will have to live with discussions about the debt problems for months and quarters to come," said Heinz-Gerd Sonnenschein, equity markets strategist at Deutsche Postbank in Bonn.
Germany is pushing for broader anti-crisis measures to be agreed at an EU summit in March and senior European sources said the sense of urgency in Berlin for boosting the fund had diminished after successful bond auctions last week in Spain and Portugal.
M&A BOOSTS SMITH'S
Merger and acquisition (M&A) hopes also helped British
engineering firm Smith's Group
Analysts remained upbeat on the near-term prospects for equities and expected sound fundamentals and strong corporate profits this season to attract investors.
"We have seen a reasonable amount of sell-offs already this year, and these have ultimately been pounced on by the bargain hunters keen to jump on board the market's medium-term positive trend," said David Jones, chief market strategist at IG Markets.
Among the gainers, SGS
On the downside, Swiss luxury goods group Richemont
Norway's Telenor
Across Europe, France's CAC-40 <.FCHI> and Britain's FTSE 100 <.FTSE> shed 0.2 and 0.3 percent respectively, while Germany's DAX <.GDAXI> was flat.
(Editing by Jane Merriman)