BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Investor sentiment in Germany rose in January on improved expectations for exports, buoying the outlook for Europe’s largest economy, the ZEW economic research institute said on Tuesday. The survey of investors’ economic sentiment increased to 61.8 from 55.0 points the previous month, ZEW said. A Reuters poll had pointed to a rise to 60.0. “Despite the uncertainty about the further course of the lockdown, the economic outlook for the German economy has improved slightly,” ZEW President Achim Wambach said in a statement. “The results of the ZEW Financial Market Survey in January show that export expectations in particular have risen significantly,” he added. A separate gauge of current conditions edged up to -66.4 from -66.5 points the previous month. That compared with a consensus forecast of -68.5 points. (Reporting by Paul Carrel; editing by Thomas Seythal)