According to the report from Sentix, the economic expectations for Euroland continue to develop very positively. Although large parts of Europe are suffering from a lockdown and the Corona pandemic seems to be flaring up again in other parts of the world, such as Japan, economic expectations continue to rise. In Euroland, they reach 33.5 points, the highest level since records began in 2003. This very positive assessment of expectations is likely to be very much in line with the prospects of a successful vaccination campaign.
The sentix overall economic index for the euro area rose by 3.6 points at the start of the year and, at +1.3 points, is back in positive territory for the first time since February 2020! This development is very surprising in view of the far reaching restrictions on economic activity in Germany and Austria, for example. This positive development is characterised by a further strong increase in the expectations score to 33.5 points. The main reason for the expectations, despite the renewed lockdown extension in Germany, is probably the high hope for a successful vaccination campaign. Now that more vaccines have been approved, investors apparently expect a quick implementation of the vaccination strategy and thus a definitive end to the economic and personal freedom restrictions.