Euro zone growth scare weighs on European shares

* FTSEurofirst 300 falls after weak German, French data

* Germany's DAX down 0.3 pct, France's CAC down 0.5 pct

* Strong German results help limit market losses

By Francesco Canepa

LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - European stocks opened lower on Thursday as disappointing economic output data from the euro zone's two largest economies dashed hopes for a more solid recovery in the currency bloc.

By 0712 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was 0.3 percent lower at 1,322.09 points, Germany's DAX also fell 0.3 percent and France's CAC dropped 0.5 percent.

The German economy suffered a surprise contraction, its first in more than a year, in the three months to June and France slashed its growth forecasts for this year and the next after its economy failed to grow in the second quarter.

"Data is getting weaker and this is no longer an environment where we are overweight equities," said strategist Matthias Thiel at M.M.Warburg & CO in Hamburg, who turned "neutral" on European equities last week.

"Especially the German data is disappointing and this is why we see more risk to our scenario that there is a moderate recovery in the euro zone."

A flash estimate of second-quarter euro zone economic growth is due at 0900 GMT. Economists had expected euro zone GDP to have expanded by 0.2 percent on the quarter in the three months to June, the same pace as seen in the first quarter.

While the weak data clouded the macro economic picture in the euro zone, it was also seen shortening the odds of a move by the European Central Bank to shore up the economy via an asset-purchase programme, which would drive up share prices.

Some strong German corporate results also provided some support to the market.

TUI AG (Xetra: TUAG00 - news) rallied 3.4 percent after it said it is very confident its full-year results will reach the upper end of its target forecast after third quarter profits almost doubled.

German potash miner K+S surged 2.3 percent after recording higher-than-expected earnings before interest and tax in the second quarter.

Shares (Frankfurt: DI6.F - news) in steelmaker ThyssenKrupp (Xetra: 750000 - news) added 0.8 percent as the German group said it may return to a net profit this year, raising its outlook for a second time after restructuring at its steel mill in Brazil paid off and demand for elevators and chemicals plants bolstered earnings.

Europe bourses in 2014: http://link.reuters.com/pap87v

Asset performance in 2014: http://link.reuters.com/gap87v

Today's European research round-up (Editing by Louise Ireland)