** Shares of Ramsay Health Care RHC.AX rise as much as 5.3% to...

** Shares of Ramsay Health Care RHC.AX rise as much as 5.3% to A$49.47, posting their biggest intraday percentage gain since Feb. 29

** Analysts at J.P. Morgan upgrade their rating on healthcare provider to "neutral" from "underweight"

** Ramsay Generale de Sante GDSF.PA, RHC's French unit, on Monday announced an agreement between the French government and federation of private clinics and hospitals for funding of private hospitals

** "A commitment from the French government to treat public and private hospitals equally and to establish a multi-year tariff agreement should make Ramsay's European operations more saleable" - J.P. Morgan

** Brokerage adds the adjusted treatment of tax credits under agreement should boost RHC's earnings from French operations in 2024

** Four analysts rate stock "buy", 10 "hold" and two "sell"; their median PT is A$56.55 – LSEG data

** Stock down 10.7% YTD, based on last close