Figures from the Sentix showed that the eurozone investor sentiment plummeted in April, recording its first decline in three months and reaching its lowest level since October 2023 amid Trump's aggressive tariff policy. In particular, economic expectations for the eurozone are falling at a record pace. The poll of 1,127 investors was conducted from April 3 to April 5.
The investor confidence index fell to -19.5 points from -2.9 points in March. Economists had expected a decline to -8.9 points. The economic expectations index fell to -15.8 points (the lowest value since October 2023) from 18.0 points in March. Meanwhile, the current situation index deteriorated to -23.3 points from -21.8 points in March.
Sentix said that Trump's tariff announcement on Liberation Day caused a wave of shock - worldwide. "The Sentix economic expectations for the eurozone plummet by 33.8 points, wiping out all the recovery efforts of recent months. The intensity of the slump is indeed remarkable: in the entire history of Sentix data since 2002, there has only been one more severe setback - Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The discount in the monthly change reflects the enormous uncertainty. This shock has hit an economic situation that has already been showing recessionary tendencies for some time", Sentix added.
Meanwhile, the investor confidence index in Germany fell to -27.8 points from -12.5 points in March. The economic expectations index declined to -15.8 points (the lowest value since September 2024) from 20.5 points in March, while the current situation index increased to -39.0 points (the highest value since July 2024) from -40.5 points in March.