European shares close to 4-week lows as Brexit vote looms

(ADVISORY- 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. See the bottom of the report for more details)

* FTSEurofirst 300 index more than 2 pct

* Lufthansa falls on news that CFO is to leave

* UniCredit (EUREX: DE000A163206.EX - news) drops as choice of new CEO seen taking time

By Atul Prakash and Danilo Masoni

LONDON/MILAN, June 10 (Reuters) - European shares fell close to a four-week low on Friday, with Lufthansa dropping after the surprise departure of its finance chief, while political worries put pressure on cyclical stocks on the last trading day of the week.

Investors are jittery ahead of a June 23 referendum on British membership of the European Union. Though bookmakers' odds point towards a vote to remain, polls suggest a neck-to-neck race.

"The upcoming UK referendum on the EU in less than two weeks, continuing slow growth within the EU ... seem to be taking a toll on European stocks," City of London Markets trader Markus Huber said.

"With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) the European football championship kicking off in France and the country being on high alert for possible terror attacks, traders in general might prefer temporarily to reduce or at least hold steady their exposure to Europe for now."

As caution ahead of the Brexit vote mounts, European equity funds posted a net outflow for the 18th consecutive week, a run not seen since February 2008, before the onslaught of the global financial crisis, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 2.45 percent by 1403 GMT, just a touch above their lowest intraday point since May 13. The index is on track for its second straight week of losses.

Lufthansa shares fell more than 5 percent after news that CFO Simone Menne is to step down, a surprise move that comes as the airline is trying to trim its cost base.

UniCredit fell more than 6 percent after its chairman said a new CEO to replace outgoing Federico Ghizzoni would not be chosen before the end of July.

Investors have been concerned the Italian bank may turn to a capital increase to beef up its finance and uncertainty over strategy is likely to continue until a new CEO is picked.

Cyclicals were hit hard, with European insurance, banking, construction and travel indexes falling between 2.6 percent and 3.7 percent.

Commodities stocks also fell, with the energy index down 1.5 percent and the mining index dropping 2.4 percent after prices of crude oil and industrial metals dropped.

Today's European research round-up

ADVISORY- 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. (Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Andrew Roche)