* FTSEurofirst 300 index closes down 0.1 percent
* Ericsson falls on economic woes
* Syngenta lower as cuts 2009 outlook
By Joanne Frearson
LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - European equities ended a shade lower on Friday after advancing for nine straight sessions, with weaker technology stocks overshadowing gains made by financial shares.
The market came under pressure after data showed that U.S. consumer confidence waned in late July to its lowest reading since April.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.1 percent lower at 907.39 points after rising as high as 915.34, its highest level since mid-November last year.
"We are running out of steam following nine days of uninterrupted gains. While we have had some reasonable second-quarter results, there is nothing to say the crisis is over yet," said Howard Wheeldon, strategist at BGC Partners.
Despite Friday's decline, the index is up 11.1 percent over the past two weeks and has gained 9 percent this year. It has jumped 40 percent after a record low in early March, but is still down around 44 percent from a multi-year peak in 2007.
Technology stocks were the worst performers. Ericsson slumped 7.7 percent after reporting the economic downturn was now taking a bigger toll on its market.
Alcatel-Lucent, Infineon Technologies and Nokia were down 1.9-3.9 percent.
Chemicals stocks were in the doldrums. Syngenta fell 6.7 percent after the group said it cut its 2009 outlook, while Bayer, Solvay and Wacker Chemie were 0.9-2.3 percent lower.
Amongst drugmakers, Merck's plummeted 14.7 percent after advisors to European Union regulators recommended that Erbitux should not be used to treat lung tumours, the world's most common form of cancer.
VODAFONE GAINS
Banks were among top gainers. Standard Chartered, Societe Generale, Banco Santander and Barclays were up 1.3-3.3 percent.
Telecommunication stocks were in demand. Vodafone gained 2.9 percent after it reported in-line sales and reiterated its full-year outlook.
Charts show the recent rally has been technically bullish, suggesting the market has become confident a two-year bear run has ended.
After rebounding from March's record low of 645 points, the index retreated in late June and early July from the first strong chart barrier that it encountered: resistance between 879 points, the 23.6 percent retracement of its drop from mid-2007, and this year's peak of 895, hit in January. While that resistance band held, the market could not be said to have established a strong floor; technically, there was a significant risk of a drop back to fresh lows.
"Markets have moved from the bottom to the top of their recent trading range in a very short space of time. We probably need some time to pause for breath," said Henk Potts, equity strategist at Barclays Stockbrokers.
"Valuations are rapidly approaching their fair value, which could potentially cut upside momentum in the near term, although a better-than expected earnings season will certainly see some upgrades in due course and give scope for further gains in the longer term," he said.
Across Europe, the FTSE 100 index was up 0.4 percent, Germany's DAX was down 0.3 percent and France's CAC 40 fell 0.2 percent. (additional reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by David Cowell)