UPDATE 1-Calendar quirk boosts Europe car sales, Fiat shines

(Adds analyst comments)

By Christiaan Hetzner

FRANKFURT, May 16 (Reuters) - Europeans continued to show only tepid interest in new cars last month but Fiat (FIA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) bucked the weakening economic outlook and a halt in government incentives in Italy, the continent's second-biggest car market.

April new car registrations in Europe jumped 9.6 percent to 1.42 million vehicles, data from European industry association ACEA showed. The gain was merely statistical with Easter falling in March, a month earlier than a year ago.

Still, the European auto sector index rose 1.8 percent by 1345 GMT, making it the top gainer.

Despite the extreme weakness in the Italian market, buyers snapped up Fiats such as the Bravo, 500 and Punto.

"Considering 60 percent of the Fiat brand's European volume comes from Italy, their figures last month were gigantic," Sal. Oppenheim analyst Jens Schattner said.

"The brand is growing fast outside of Italy, thanks to new models and a build up of its dealer network, and it is really grabbing market share at the expense of French and American brands."

Fiat shares rose 2.5 percent to 15.38 euros.