German industrial output up 0.2 percent in February, continues modest rebound

Official figures show German industrial production rose 0.2 percent in February from the month before.

The increase beat expectations among market analysts for a 0.1 percent increase. But it comes along with a sharp downward revision for January's figure, to minus 0.4 percent from plus 0.6 percent.

Analyst Christian Schulz at Berenberg bank said Thursday the figures confirm a "moderate recovery trend" in industry after a slowdown last year over fears the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would worsen.

He said that business surveys still point to "a substantial acceleration of activity in the coming months."

Germany's economy grew 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter from the quarter before. That helped push the figure for the entire 19-country eurozone up to 0.3 percent.