GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, euro rise after upbeat growth data

* MSCI world equity index up 0.2 pct at 347.05

* Strong German and French GDP, corporate results help

* Euro above six-week low vs dollar, eyes on Greece

By Natsuko Waki

LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - World stocks rose on Friday and the euro firmed from a six-week low against the dollar as upbeat German and French growth data and favourable European corporate earnings prompted investors to buy back risky assets.

Germany's economy beat the most bullish forecast in a Reuters poll to grow by 1.5 percent [ID:nBZNCGE7A9] in the first quarter while the French economy also grew faster than expected thanks to a strong pick-up in business investment, expanding 1.0 percent from the final quarter of 2010. [ID:nLDE74C06J]

Strong growth in the two major euro zone economies -- together they make up almost half of the region's output -- and strong results from EADS and Credit Agricole helped lift world stocks from Thursday's three-week low.

"It's another data point that is adding to positive sentiment," said Ben Hauzenberger, fund manager at Zurich-based Swisscanto Asset Management, which manages about 60 billion Swiss francs ($68 billion).

"I am rather optimistic for the stock market as a lot of companies have provided very good results." The MSCI world equity index <.MIWD00000PUS> rose 0.2 percent while the Thomson Reuters global stock index <.TRXFLDGLPU> gained 0.1 percent.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> was up slightly on the day. Airbus parent EADS rose 3.4 percent as the company saw its cash pile hit a record 12.2 billion euros ($17.3 billion) and posted higher-than-expected first quarter earnings.

U.S. stock futures rose 0.15 percent , pointing to a firmer open on Wall Street later.

Emerging stocks <.MSCIEF> rose 0.4 percent.

Euro zone data also helped U.S. crude oil , which rose 0.9 percent to $99.91 after a volatile week when prices have fluctuated either side of the $100 mark.

"Very healthy numbers out of the euro zone this morning are supporting oil and have pushed the euro through key resistance against the dollar," said Robert Montefusco, commodities broker at Sucden Financial.

The dollar <.DXY> fell a quarter percent against a basket of major currencies.

The euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.4285 , moving away from a six-week low set on Thursday.

Concerns that Greece won't repay private bondholders in full have helped the currency shed roughly 5 percent from a peak near $1.4940 hit in early May.

A Eurogroup meeting of euro zone finance ministers is due to be held on Monday, followed on Tuesday by an Ecofin meeting of European Union finance ministers. [ID:nLDE66D1JB]

The bund future fell 21 ticks. (Additional reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)