Sentix euro zone sentiment gauge rebounds in April

BERLIN (Reuters) - Euro zone investors' morale unexpectedly rose in April, with their assessment of current conditions and their expectations improving, a survey showed on Monday.

A sentiment gauge based on a survey of more than 2,700 European investors by the Sentix group rose to 4.1 from 0.4 in March, bouncing back after falling for nine months running.

The mid-range forecast of economists polled by Reuters last week was for a decline to -1.3. Predictions ranged from -3.2 to 0.9.

"(The survey) shows there is light at the end of the tunnel," the group said in a statement. "The assessments of the investors surveyed by Sentix remain, however, well behind those of industrial firms, as shown by the Ifo institute survey. Investors remain sceptical about the financial crisis not leading to a further growth slowdown."

German corporate morale, as measured by the Ifo institute's business climate index, unexpectedly rose in March to its highest level in seven months.

A Sentix measure of investor expectations for business activity over the next six months rose to -16.00 from -19.25 in March. A separate gauge of current conditions rose to 26.50 from 22.25.

The survey was conducted between April 3 and April 5.

(Reporting by Paul Carrel; editing by David Stamp)