* FTSE 100 down 0.3 pct, fourth session of falls

* Banks, insurers lead fallers on Greece worries

* Pipeline set to reverse crude flow on Thursday, reduce glut

* G8 to discuss emergency oil reserves release -Kyodo

* European share market falls 0.4 pct to 989.11 pts

* Euro hovers around $1.2710

* Rebound in euro supports spot gold, U.S. futures

* Gold to rise to $1,563.56 -technicals

* Rebound in euro supports spot gold, U.S. futures

* Gold to rise to $1,563.56 -technicals

* MSCI Asia ex-Japan rises 1 pct, Nikkei adds 0.7 pct

* Euro off four-month low, dollar eases from four-month peak

* Euro barely above 4-month low, still vulnerable

* Greek banks face funding needs, adding to pressure

TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - The Nikkei share average inched back up on Thursday as upbeat Japanese economic growth data dispelled wariness over Greece's potential exit from the euro zone and investors shopped for cheap stocks after the earnings season and a 12 percent slide in the benchmark this quarter.

The Nikkei rose 0.9 percent to 8,876.59 yen, while the broader Topix gained 1.1 percent to close at 747.16. (Reporting by Sophie Knight; Editing by Joseph Radford)

* Risk aversion up on possible Greece exit from EU, contagion fears

* G8 countries to discuss emergency oil reserves release

* Risk aversion up on possible Greece exit from EU, contagion fears

* G8 countries to discuss emergence oil reserves release

* MSCI Asia ex-Japan rises 0.5 pct, Nikkei flat

* Euro off four-month low, dollar off four-month peak

* Gold supported by rebound in euro

* Gold to rise to $1,563.56 -technicals

SINGAPORE, May 17 (Reuters) - Gold rose half a percent on Thursday as bargain hunters resurfaced after prices tumbled to another 4-1/2 month low in the previous season, but gains could be limited by fears of a deepening debt crisis in Greece, even as the euro rebounded.

Bullion has this year been moving in tandem with assets that are perceived to be risky, shedding its status as a safe haven in times of economic instability.

* MSCI Asia ex-Japan inches up 0.1 pct, Nikkei opens down 0.1 pct

* Euro off four-month low

* Oil prices drop with equities, euro's slump on Greece worries

* U.S. EIA crude stock build smaller than API report

* U.S. stocks, euro slide on news of Greek bank funding needs

* ECB says it stops funding operations for some Greek banks

* Gold lifts from 2012 lows as euro edges back into the black

* COMEX futures touch lowest since July at $1,526.70

* Oil prices drop with equities, euro's slump on Greece worries

* U.S. EIA crude stock build smaller than API report

* U.S. stocks, euro slides on news of Greek bank funding needs

* ECB says it stops funding operations for some Greek banks

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - Brent crude futures fell on Wednesday as Greece's banking and political problems reinforced concerns about the euro zone's economy, pressuring equities and oil prices.

Expiring Brent June crude fell 53 cents, or 0.47 percent, to settle at $111.71 a barrel, going off the board after trading from $110.41 to $112.10.

BRENT JULY CRUDE FUTURES SETTLE AT $109.75/BBL, DOWN $1.70

* Oil prices drop with equities, euro's slump on Greece worries

* U.S. EIA crude stock build smaller than API report

* U.S. stocks mixed, euro slides on news of Greek bank funding needs

* ECB says stops funding operations for some Greek banks

* Oil prices drop with equities, euro's slump on Greece worries

* U.S. EIA crude stock build smaller than API report

* U.S. stocks pare gains, euro at break-even on ECB speculation

* ECB stops funding operations for some Greek banks-sources

* Oil prices drop with equities, euro's slump on Greece worries

* U.S. EIA crude stock build smaller than API report

* Gold lifts from lows as euro edges back into the black

* Prices touched low $1,572/oz earlier, near lowest since July

* Greek uncertainty continues, euro could test 2012 low

* ECB stops operations with some Greek bank-sources

* ECB stops funding operations for some Greek banks-sources

* U.S. stocks pare gains, euro retreats on ECB speculation

* Oil prices fall with shares, euro in early trade

* U.S. oil stockbuild four times larger than forecast - API

(Updates prices, adds comment)

* Gold lifts from lows as euro edges back into the black

* European shares, euro pare losses on hope Greece won't exit

* Bond prices fall as investors assess Merkel's stance

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - The euro surrendered gains against the dollar to last trade little changed on Wednesday as investors debated whether Greece will retain the euro despite Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and the new French President Francois Hollande both stressing they want the indebted nation to remain in the currency bloc.

The euro was last up 0.05 percent at $1.2734, closer to the session peak of $1.2759 than the session low of $1.2679. (Reporting by Nick Olivari; Editing by James Dalgleish)

* Oil prices fall with shares, euro as risk appetite declines

* U.S. oil stockbuild four times larger than forecast - API

(Updates prices)

* Gold eases as dollar profits from Greek worries

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - The euro climbed to a session high against the dollar on Wednesday on expectations that Germany and France will act together to keep Greece in the euro zone after Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and the new French President Francois Hollande had their first official meeting on Tu esd ay. .

The euro was last up 0.1 percent at 1.2740 after climbing as high as $1.2746, according to Reuters data. (Reporting By Nick Olivari Editing by W Simon)

* Euro touches 4-month low of $1.2681 on Greek exitfears

* Worldwide share sell-off led by emerging markets

* Oil prices fall with shares, euro as risk appetite declines

* U.S. oil stockbuild four times larger than forecast - API

(Updates throughout)

* Gold dented as dollar profits from Greek worries

* Oil prices fall with shares, euro as risk appetite declines

* U.S. oil stockbuild four times larger than forecast - API

* Euro touches 4-month low of $1.2683 on Greek exit fears

* European shares set fresh lows for the year