BERLIN—German investor sentiment rose in February on expectations that restrictions to contain COVID-19 will ease, allowing growth in Europe’s largest economy to pick up, a survey showed on Tuesday. The ZEW economic research institute said its economic sentiment index rose to 54.3 from 51.7 in January. A Reuters poll had pointed to a rise to 55.0. “The economic outlook for Germany continues to improve in February despite growing economic and political uncertainties,” ZEW President Achim Wambach said in a statement. “Financial market experts expect an easing of pandemic-related restrictions and an economic recovery in the first half of 2022. They still expect inflation to decline, albeit at a slower pace and from a higher level than in previous months,” he added. “Consequently, more than 50 percent of the experts now predict that short-term interest rates in the euro area will rise in the next six months.” An index for current …