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European shares steady after mixed earnings

* FTSEurofirst 300 up 0.1 pct, hovers below 7-year high

* Allianz drops as dividend hike disappoints

By Blaise Robinson

PARIS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - European stocks were steady in early trading on Thursday, taking a breather from a sharp two-month rally, with Allianz falling after its dividend rise disappointed.

Shares (Frankfurt: DI6.F - news) in Europe's largest insurer fell 2.6 percent, the biggest losers among blue-chips, as it raised its dividend by less than expected and results in asset management stalled following client defections at its U.S. unit Pimco.

Greek banking shares fell, dragged by renewed worries over the country's ability to make debt repayments to the IMF and the European Central Bank this year.

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Shares in National Bank (NYSE: NBHC - news) of Greece, Alpha Bank (Other OTC: ALBWF - news) , Bank of Piraeus and Eurobank were down 2.9-4.7 percent.

Belgian chemicals group Solvay (LSE: 0NZR.L - news) rose 3.7 percent after saying it would pay out more to its shareholders following better-than-expected results.

About two thirds into Europe's earnings season, 55 percent companies have met or beaten profit forecasts. Overall, fourth-quarter earnings are expected to grow by 19.5 percent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, which would be Europe's best season in 3-1/2 years.

At 0902 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.1 percent at 1,543.47 points, taking a breather from its two-month rally during which it has gained 13 percent, boosted by the upcoming bond-buying programme by the European Central Bank, which has also pushed bond yield down.

Germany's 7-year bond yields turned negative for the first time on Thursday, dipping around 2 basis points to hit a trough of -0.003 percent, while 10-year yields were 2 bps lower at 0.304 percent, just off a record low of 0.298 percent hit last month.

"The massive liquidity on the market has been pushing the yields down," Saxo Bank trader Andrea Tueni said.

"The fact that the yields are turning negative is not a signal of risk aversion. The stock market is very bullish, although indexes in Europe are 'overbought' at this point."

Around Europe, UK's FTSE 100 index was up 0.03 percent, Germany's DAX index flat, and France's CAC 40 up 0.01 percent.

Europe bourses in 2015: http://link.reuters.com/pap87v

Asset performance in 2015: http://link.reuters.com/gap87v

Today's European research round-up

(Editing by Alison Williams)