Investor morale in the euro zone brightened substantially in March, with economic expectations hitting their highest reading since July 2021, a survey showed on Monday, as Germany’s plans for new debt contributed to the positive sentiment.
The overall Sentix index for the currency union shot up to -2.9 in March from -12.7 in February, beating expectations from analysts polled by Reuters for a rise to -8.4.
The indicator focused on economic expectations for the next six months rose for a third time in a row to 18.0 in March from 1.0 the month before, according to the survey.
The survey of 1,097 investors from March 6-8 also showed the assessment of the current situation improved to -21.8 in March from -25.5 in February.
The survey cited new debt-financed investments planned for armament in Europe and in Germany, where a newly forming government wants to bump up defence and infrastructure, as behind the bump.
“For Germany, investors are downright euphoric,” Sentix said in a statement about Europe’s largest economy.
Expectations for Germany alone jumped by 26.3 points, to 20.5, and the overall index rose by 17.2 points to -12.5, it added.
The picture was different in other parts of the world, Sentix noted. In the United States, there was a massive slump in current situation and expectations values.
Source : Reuters
The composition of international reserves is in a constant state of flux. This column identifies…
There are concerns that the widespread adoption of central bank digital currencies could drain bank…
Innovation is widely viewed as the engine of economic growth, but we know surprisingly little…
Land-use regulations, including height limits, affect housing affordability and urban productivity. This column analyses over…
Most debate about AI and jobs still starts with the automation frontier: how many tasks…
The 2024 reform of the EU's Stability and Growth Pact introduced medium-term expenditure paths as…