* German corp morale hits new low but expectations improve
* French Jan consumer spending posts surprise bounce
* Italian Feb consumer confidence beats expectations
* ECB unlikely to cut by more than 50 basis pts-Provopoulos
By Dave Graham
BERLIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - German corporate morale has hit a new record low but an improved companies' outlook and unexpected resilience among French and Italian consumers offered some hope that the economic downturn could be nearing the bottom.
Europe's major economies have been pummelled by a collapse in foreign demand though easing inflation and government stimulus efforts are helping support consumer sentiment.
The European Central Bank, which held interest rates this month after a 50 basis point cut in January, is unlikely to cut by any more than 50 basis points at its March 5 meeting, ECB Governing Council member George Provopoulos told Reuters.
The Munich-based think tank Ifo said its business climate index, based on a monthly poll of around 7,000 firms, fell to 82.6 in February from 83.0 in January, hitting its lowest level since German reunification in 1990.
Belgian business confidence also fell to a record low in February hit by a sharp fall in manufacturing sentiment.
On a positive note, Ifo's gauge of German business expectations rose for a second consecutive month.
"Weakness in demand is getting worse and it's a real threat," said Adolf Rosenstock, an economist at Gebser & Partner Asset Management.
"However, the stabilisation in expectations suggests we may be reaching the bottom."
Andreas Scheuerle, an economist at DekaBank, also saw a glimmer of hope: "Out of the valley of tears, we're now seeing a small ray of hope with companies' improved outlook."
"As soon as their expectations turn around that's a signal that they will be ready to start making investments and start hiring again in about six months' time," Scheuerle said.
FRENCH BOUNCE
French consumer spending rebounded far more strongly than expected in January as shoppers spent heavily on cars and other goods, but their concerns about the future have grown, official data showed on Tuesday.
Consumer spending on manufactured goods rose 1.8 percent compared both with a month earlier and a year before, far surpassing the monthly increase of 0.2 percent expected by analysts.
"It confirms the diagnosis that there is no problem with consumption in France since we have had very strong disinflation, which increases households' purchasing power, even if they don't notice it necessarily," said Asteres economist Nicolas Bouzou.
French inflation has fallen from above 3 percent last summer to less than one percent in December.
Spending on automobiles, which has taken a beating in the global economic downturn, rose 2.8 percent, helped by bonuses offered for trading in old cars to buy news ones.
Italian consumer confidence rose in February, beating expectations for a second consecutive month, as slowing inflation brightened Italians' view of their personal finances and the economy, data showed on Tuesday.
Research institute ISAE said its seasonally adjusted index rose to 104.1 from 102.6 in January, taking it to the pre-crisis levels of December 2007.
ECB MEETING
Analysts said the German Ifo data would likely prompt the European Central Bank to cut its main lending rate from 2.0 percent after holding them last month.
"While other central banks have continued monetary easing since the beginning of the year, the ECB stood aloof, taking a period of reflection," said Carsten Brzeski, an analyst at ING Financial Markets.
"Next week, the ECB will clearly get back into action and cut rates by at least 50 basis points."
ECB Governing Council member Provopoulos in an interview with Reuters in Athens said the bank is unlikely to cut interest rates by any more than 50 basis points.
"It is clear that we are now approaching the lower limit, that is, a level at which we cannot go any further," he said.
Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has suffered an unprecedented collapse in industrial orders due to the financial crisis.
Ifo said morale among manufacturers had declined further in February. Despite the pick-up in expectations, Ifo said that German firms remained "basically sceptical".
Corporate Germany, which profited from a boom in foreign demand in recent years that made it the world's biggest exporter of goods, is now suffering acutely from the global downturn.
Assembly lines at some Volkswagen plants in Germany fell silent on Monday as Europe's biggest carmaker switched to a short working week for the first time in 26 years.
(Additional reporting by Stephen Brown, Francois Murphy and Marcin Grajewski)