The ZEW Business Sentiment Index for Germany slowed in February to 58.3, down 1.3 points from 59.6 in January. This was slightly below expectations of a rise to 65.8. The index’s stability in February coincided with a continued improvement in the assessment of the current economic situation in Germany, which reached -65.9, a rise of 6.8 points from January.

Export-oriented sectors showed significant improvement, with the outlook particularly brightening in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries (up 7.5 points) and steel and metal production (up 8.6 points).

In contrast, the index for the Eurozone fell by 1.4 points to 39.4, compared to expectations of a rise to around 45.7, despite an increase of 4.5 points in the assessment of the current situation to -13.6.