MORNING BID EUROPE-France - getting better?

* A look at the day ahead from European Economics and Politics Editor Mark John and Nigel Stephenson, specialist editor, EMEA markets. The views expressed are their own.

LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - For the first time in a while, the French economy is growing faster than Britain's, with data today showing 0.5 percent growth in the first quarter helped by the strongest increase in consumer spending in over decade. That contrasts with Britain, where today's GfK (Swiss: GFK.SW - news) survey shows that uncertainty over Brexit is eroding both consumer and business confidence, one of several factors behind a slowdown in growth to just 0.4 percent in the first quarter. Signs of a more solid recovery may start to help Francois Hollande press his main re-election argument that, at last, "things are getting better" but last night's clashes in several cities between protesters and police over planned labour reform laws showed how far he has to go. A large part of the French population -- particularly the young -- feel excluded from any "feel-good" factor and it will take more than words to convince them otherwise.

Our polling shows the recent rally in oil prices has done little to lift the gloom surrounding the Russian economy, with a consensus that it will contract 1.5 percent this year, slightly more sharply than an earlier forecast. Scope for some kind of fiscal boost remains limited as Vladimir Putin's government tries to keep a lid on the deficit and even the central bank, due to meet later today, has its hands tied. Expectations are that it will keep its main policy rate at 11 percent in an effort to keep concerns over inflation (linked to the weaker rouble) in check.

Ratings agency DBRS, one of the big four, is due to review its stance on Portugal later today. This is being closely watched because DBRS is the only one which still assigns an investment grade to Portuguese debt amid concerns the new government is loosening the grip on its public finances. Losing it would be pretty disastrous for Lisbon, as it would disqualify Portugal from the European Central Bank's asset buying scheme, likely pushing government bond yields sharply higher and raising debt finance costs.

MARKETS AT 0645 GMT

A bad day on Wall Street, in which tech-related stocks fell after Carl Icahn said he had sold his Apple (LSE: 0R2V.L - news) shares, has set the early tone for stocks. Asian shares are down and Europe is expected to follow suit. This despite forecast-beating results after the U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . market closed from Amazon. Concern also still in the air after the Bank of Japan defied expectations of further stimulus. Yet another sign, said some, of how dependent markets are on central banks. The other outstanding mover is the yen, which hit an 18-month peak vs the dollar. Japan markets are closed for a holiday and some traders are keeping an eye out for intervention, although others said the yen's move would have be more "disorderly" before that would happen.

MSCI (NYSE: MSCI - news) 's main Asia-Pacific exJapan index is down 0.5 pct, though Chinese shares are about flat. BASF reported an 8 percent decline in quarterly underlying operating profit. However, the decline was smaller than feared. AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN - news) 's underlying earnings fell 12 percent in the first quarter, broadly in line with analyst expectations, hit by drug patent expiries.

Other stock movers: Swiss Re (LSE: 0QL6.L - news) said it expected challenging market conditions to continue throughout 2016 as it posted a smaller-than-expected drop in first-quarter net income; Sanofi (LSE: 0O59.L - news) said it was confident of winning the support of Medivation shareholders for a possible takeover of the U.S. cancer drug company as it reported higher quarterly profit; Royal Bank of Scotland risks missing an end-2017 deadline to sell its Williams & Glyn brand; ENI (LSE: 0N9S.L - news) swung to a net loss in the first quarter of 792 million euros ($902 million) from a profit of 832 million euros a year earlier; Engie (LSE: 0LD0.L - news) said first-quarter core earnings decreased 1.7 percent; Casino said it closed the sale of Big C Vietnam to Central Group, for an enterprise value of 1 billion euros; Amundi (Berlin: 350155.BE - news) said first-quarter net income rose 1 percent; and Bankia (Amsterdam: QU8.AS - news) posted a 3.3 percent fall in first quarter net profit.

Upcoming data/events/themes for market reports on Friday:

- France prelim Q1 GDP +0.5 pct vs 0.4 pct f'cast

- Germany March retail sales -1.1 pct (+0.3)

- UK March mortgage lending 0830 GMT

- Euro zone April flash inflation 0900 GMT

- Euro zone flash Q1 GDP 0900 GMT

- Euro zone March unemployment 0900 GMT

- U.S. personal consumption and income 1230 GMT (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)