* FTSEurofirst 300 index up 0.6 percent
* Banks rise, investors focus on U.S. data
* Health care stocks gain; Morgan Stanley upgrades Glaxo
By Farah Master
LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) - European stocks were up at midday on Thursday, with banks bolstered by investor optimism over prospects for economic recovery but markets awaited U.S. economic data due later in the session.
At 1008 GMT the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.6 percent at 885.11 points, having closed 1.2 percent higher on Wednesday.
The index has gained around 37 percent since it hit a record low on March 9 as investors have warmed to prospects for economic recovery.
U.S. weekly jobless claims and retail sales for May are due at 1230 GMT, with both sets of data expected by analysts to shed more light on whether the world's largest economy is on the mend.
"The U.S. retail sales will probably be the main agenda item in a day that seems to be devoid of major news flow," said Jeremy Batstone-Carr analyst at Charles Stanley in London. "In order to make further progress we need to see further confirmation of economic recovery."
Economists polled by Reuters expect a 0.5 percent rise in retail sales compared with a 0.4 percent decline in April. Excluding automobiles, sales are expected to rise 0.2 percent compared with a 0.5 percent drop the month before.
European Central Bank governing council member Christian Noyer said the global economy could start growing again between the end of this year and the middle of 2010.
Banks added the most points to the index with Barclays up 2 percent, BNP Paribas up 1.6 percent, HSBC Holdings up 2.9 percent, UBS up 2.4 percent and Swedbank up 3.1 percent.
Allied Irish Banks climbed 6.9 percent on news that it would exchange up to 2.7 billion euros worth of bonds in a move to boost its core Tier 1 capital ratio. The DJ STOXX banking index rose 1.5 percent.
Pharmaceuticals were large gainers, with GlaxoSmithKline rising 2.1 percent after positive analyst comments.
Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "equal-weight" from "underweight", and Cazenove, which rates Glaxo "outperform", said: "GSK's risk profile for the remainder of 2009 is relatively benign and as the generic hits begin to wash out we should see the start of an earnings recovery."
The DJ STOXX European healthcare index rose 1.3 percent.
CAPITAL GOODS "ATTRACTIVE"
The DJ Stoxx European industrial goods and services index was another sector showing strength, up 0.8 percent, after Goldman Sachs upgraded capital goods to "attractive" from "neutral".
"Current share prices offer an attractive entry point into the capital goods sector," Goldman said in a sector note.
British engineer Invensys, one of the stocks upgraded by Goldman Sachs, rose 2.9 percent.
Shares in Givaudan fell 2.5 percent after the Swiss flavours and fragrances maker announced a deeply discounted rights issue to raise around 420 million Swiss francs ($391 million) by issuing 1 million shares to reduce debt and increase flexibility.
"A rights issue has been rumoured for some time given the company's indebtedness but the 40 percent discount -- no doubt to ensure it gets away -- appears steep. There is a 13 percent earnings-per-share dilution," Kepler Research said in a note. (Additional reporting by Peter Stark; Editing by Greg Mahlich)