Euro zone investor morale rises in February — survey
The building of the European Central Bank (ECB) appears on the horizon during sunset in Frankfurt, Germany, December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo
FRANKFURT (Reuters) — Investor morale in the euro zone improved for the fourth consecutive month in February to its highest level since April, but economic weakness in Germany means it is too early to give the all-clear, a survey showed on Monday.
Sentix’s index for the euro zone rose to -12.9 points in February from -15.8 in January, above a reading of -15.0 estimated in a Reuters poll of analysts.
Germany, the region’s largest economy, remains a drag on the region, Sentix said, pointing to a persistent economic crisis in the country.
«The recovery process is proceeding slowly,» Sentix said, adding the situation in Germany was «precarious».
For the euro zone, the expectations index rose to -5.5 points in February from -8.8 points in January, a fifth consecutive month of improvement and the highest value since February 2023.
The index on the current situation in the euro zone also rose to -20.0 in February from -22.5 in January, the fourth monthly increase in a row.
The poll of 1,306 investors was conducted between Feb. 1 and Feb. 3.
