Berlin (Reuters) – Investor morale improved faster than scheduled in May in the euro area after a drastic fall in the index last month due to the taxation of new customs duties by Washington, even if it still remains at a low level, shows a survey published on Monday.
The Fenix ​​index for the euro zone rose from -19.5 in April to -8.1 in May, while analysts tamed on -12.5.
The current situation index also displays a surprise improvement at -19.3, its highest level since August 2024, although it remains in the negative.
Economic expectations for the next six months have jumped 19.6 points to 3.8.
“It is impressive because it shows that investors largely abandoned the fears of recession they had expressed last month,” said Fentix in a statement.
The survey of 1,068 investors from May 1 to 3 shows that the latter seem to assess the moderate response adopted so far by the European Commission in the face of American customs duties, added Sentix.
In Germany, the largest economy in Europe, this placidity also allowed expectations to increase by more than 20 points to 5.5.
“The main victims of Trump’s customs policy are the American economy and, to a certain extent, the economies of China and Switzerland,” said Fentix.
“The period of uncertainty is probably not yet over yet,” added the firm specialized in behavioral finance.
(Written by Miranda Murray, Pauline Foret, edited by Kate Entringer)
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