STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Broker upgrade lifts office-space firm Regus

May 20 (Reuters) - Office space supplier Regus Plc (Other OTC: RGSJF - news) 's shares are up as much as 3.1 percent on Tuesday after brokerage Panmure Gordon bumps up its rating on the stock to "buy" from "hold".

Analysts say the positive sentiment expressed by Panmure Gordon in its note contrasts with a weakness in the stock price over the past couple of months and is helping Regus par its losses.

"The shares are (down 18 percent) over the last 3 months and have started to underperform the sector, which we believe presents an interesting entry point," Panmure Gordon analysts say.

Regus's stock hit a 52-week-high of 253.20 pence on February 25, but has since lost 26 percent of its value to Monday's close.

Analysts Mike Allen and Paul Jones say that, although the stock doesn't trade cheaply, they have been long term fans of the business and believe that earnings leverage in its mature business is considerable.

Regus, which rents out meeting rooms, business lounges and office spaces to clients such as GlaxoSmithKline Plc (Other OTC: GLAXF - news) , Google Inc (NasdaqGS: GOOG - news) and Toshiba Corp, counts centres open at least two years as part of its mature business.

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