Miners boost Europe shares after Chinese PMI data

                                
 * FTSEurofirst 300 index rises 0.4 percent
                                
 * Vivendi rises after raises annual profits targets
                                
 * TUI Travel up as TUI AG mulls outright purchase
                                
 * For up-to-the minute market news, click on [STXNEWS/EU]
                                
 
                                
 By Joanne Frearson
                                
 LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - European shares rose on
Wednesday, led by mining stocks boosted by a manufacturing
rebound in China and the media sector after Vivendi <VIV.PA>
raised its annual profit targets.
                                
 However, gains could be limited as investors await the U.S.
ADP National Employment statistics at 1215 GMT, a precursor to
the non-farm payrolls data on Friday and U.S. construction
spending and ISM manufacturing PMI figures at 1400 GMT.
                                
 Miners were buoyed by optimism about China's manufacturing
base after positive purchasing manager data. Anglo American
<AAL.L>, Antofagasta <ANTO.L>, BHP Billiton <BLT.L>, Rio Tinto
<RIO.L> and Xstrata <XTA.L> gained 0.7 percent to 2 percent.
                                
 By 0847 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3>
index of top shares was 0.4 percent higher at 1,029.99 points.
"The data out of China which was better-than-expected and
the Australian data was good," said Philip Gillett, trader at
Spreadex.
                                
 China's official purchasing managers' index rose to 51.7 in
August from a 17-month low of 51.2 in July, while data showing
Australia's economy grew a stronger-than-expected 1.2 percent in
the second quarter also provided some comfort. [ID:nBJB003928]
[ID:nSYU010570]
                                
 "But, markets have been data driven of late and the general
consensus is the U.S. is starting to splutter. If there are
signs in the U.S. ADP employment and U.S. ISM data that the U.S.
is spluttering, the market could turn."
                                
 Elsewhere, Europe's largest telecom and entertainment group
Vivendi gained 4.1 percent. The company raised its annual profit
targets when posting forecast-beating first-half results boosted
by its newly acquired Brazilian telecoms unit and video games.
                                
 
                                
 TUI TRAVEL GAINS
                                
 TUI Travel <TT.L> rose 3.2 percent after the Financial Times
Deutschland reported German group TUI AG <TUIGn.DE>, Europe's
biggest tour operator, is considering buying the shares it does
not already own in the British firm. [ID:nLDE68005X]
                                
 "TUI AG's desire for TUI Travel is clearly well known. The
key to unlocking that is Hapag-Lloyd," said KBC Peel Hunt
analyst Nick Batram, adding that it would be expected to offer
"north of 250 pence" to gain the support of independent TUI
Travel shareholders.
                                
 Metro <MEOG.DE>, the world's number four retailer, rose 3.4
percent after Bernstein Research upgraded the stock to
"outperform" from "market-perform".
                                
 Siemens <SIEGn.DE> fell 1.6 percent after Deutsche Bank
downgraded the German industrial conglomerate to "hold" from
"buy".
                                
 The Euro STOXX 50 <.STOXX50E> was 0.4 percent higher at
2,632.44, holding above a key support level, the 23.6 percent
retracement of a fall from an April high to a May low. 
                                
 Across Europe, the FTSE 100 <.FTSE> index was 0.9 percent
higher, Germany's DAX <.GDAXI> was up 0.1 percent and France's
CAC 40 <.FCHI> rose 0.6 percent.
 (Editing by Sharon Lindores)