* FTSEurofirst 300 up 0.3 percent at 8-week closing high
* Ericsson, carmakers gain on strong earnings
* Fed's Bernanke seen indicating no haste to tighten policy
By Harpreet Bhal
LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - Strong corporate earnings in the technology and auto sector pushed up European shares on Wednesday, helped by anticipation that the U.S. will confirm its loose monetary policy later in the day.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to indicate a patient approach to withdrawing the central bank's ultra-loose policy when he gives a news conference at 1815 GMT after a policy announcement at 1630 GMT, in a move likely to fuel medium-term appetite for risky assets
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed 0.3 percent higher at 1,147.24 points, its highest close since early March, though volumes were below its 90-day average.
Wider gains on the index, however, tempered by persistent fears that highly indebted Greece will need to restructure its debt, pushed Greek government bond yields to euro lifetime high and hit its banking shares which shed 3.6 percent.
In a positive trend for equities, the Euro STOXX 50, the euro zone's blue chip index, held significantly above its 50-day moving average of 2,931.62, and analysts said the bullish trend remained intact for now.
"The short-term upward bias for equities remains up, confirming the current risk-on situation on the financial markets," said Roelof-Jan Van den Akker, senior technical analyst at ING.
"A close above the previous highs around 2,992 opens the way for a test of the longer-term crucial resistance in the line chart around the 3,100 level," he said, adding that a close above 3,100 would prompt a longer-term "buy" signal.
The index closed 0.8 percent higher at 1,977.59 points.
Upbeat earnings helped individual shares push higher, in a confirmation of brightening prospects for companies as the economy recovers.
Telecoms gear maker Ericsson rose 10.8 percent to the top of the FTSEurofirst 300 leaderboard after it beat first-quarter core profit expectations.
Carmakers were also on the rise, with Germany's Volkswagen and Porsche both up around 6 percent on robust first-quarter results, while France's Renault added 3.8 percent after posting better-than-expected sales.
Barclays, however, was pressured by disappointing earnings, dropping 4.8 percent after the British lender's first-quarter profit fell on the back of lower income at its key investment banking unit.
DATA SUPPORTS
The FTSEurofirst 300 index earlier extended gains after data showed new orders for durable goods in the United States rose solidly in March, and bookings for the prior month were much stronger than initially thought, pointing to strength in the manufacturing sector.
The data comes as the U.S. Federal Reserve is seen keeping to its $600 billion bond buying programme, taking the view that the economy still needs monetary policy support, even as hawkish Fed officials have recently voiced the need for tightening to avoid stoking rising inflation.
"Investors want to know exactly how the monetary authority will develop its current economic policy, with inflation likely to be the hot topic on the agenda," said Ben Critchley, sales trader at IG Index. (Editing by Will Waterman)