Clear and surprising improvement in the index elaborated monthly by the Zew study center for Germany. The indicator describes the confidence of finance companies and has marked a sensational rise, reaching the maximum value since last April.
Indeed, the Zew index jumped in February to 5,4 points, against -21,6 in January and an expectation of -12,0. The index referred to current conditions of the German economy rose to 40,3 points from 28,4 in January, which is also well above expectations of 30,0. However, the index remains negative on expectations on the Euroland economy, despite the clear improvement from -32,5 to -8,1 points (the consensus was at -21,1 points).
Therefore, after the last difficult months of 2011, confidence in the German economy is growing, the slowdown of which does not seem destined to last, while the clouds over the euro area, following the progress in the talks on the Greek debt, could begin to clear.
