Europe market review: Economic sentiment improves in the eurozone

July 2017

The European Central Bank continued to play down speculation that it is poised to begin winding down its programme of stimulus measures. Inflationary pressures in the eurozone remain subdued and inflation is not expected to reach its 2% target until 2020. Economic sentiment in the eurozone rose in July to its highest level for ten years, underpinned by stronger confidence in the services sector.

  • The IMF upgraded its forecast for economic growth in the eurozone
  • The rate of inflation remained unchanged at 1.3% YoY in June
  • Unemployment in the euro area reached its lowest level since February 2009

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European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi played down speculation that the central bank intends to start winding down its programme of economic stimulus measures soon. Mr Draghi said: “The last thing that the Governing Council may want is actually an unwanted tightening of the financing conditions that either slows down this process or may even jeopardise it”. Mr Draghi hailed the measures as successful, citing “all the economic sentiment indicators (and) survey indicators (which) are either at all-time highs or close to that”. The euro rose to its highest level against the US dollar since the beginning of 2015; meanwhile, the Dax Index fell by 1.7% and the CAC 40 Index dropped by 0.5% over the month.

“The euro rose to its highest level against the US dollar since the beginning of 2015”

Mr Draghi issued a cautionary note, however, warning that underlying inflation remains subdued and has not yet demonstrated “convincing signs of a pick-up”. The annualised rate of inflation in the euro area remained unchanged at 1.3% during June, remaining below the ECB’s 2% target . A survey undertaken by the ECB found that expectations for inflation in the euro area have deteriorated, highlighting the problems faced by the central bank. The survey found that the rate of inflation expected to remain below target in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Economic sentiment in the eurozone rose in July to its highest level for ten years . Sentiment was boosted by stronger confidence in the services sector. The eurozone’s rate of unemployment fell to 9.1% during June, reaching its lowest level since February 2009. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects economic expansion in the eurozone to be stronger than previously predicted, and upgraded its forecast for 2017 from 1.7% to 1.9%, citing better-than-expected momentum in domestic demand. The IMF also upgraded its economic forecasts for several major European countries, including Spain – which is expected to expand this year by 3.1% - and Italy, which is forecast to grow by 1.3%.

Following a surge in demand for European equity funds in April and May, investors’ appetite for funds in the Europe excluding UK sector declined during June, according to the Investment Association (IA) . Nevertheless, in absolute terms, demand remained relatively robust and the sector experienced net inflows of £188 million during the month. Similarly, although demand for funds in the European Smaller Companies sector waned in June, net retail sales remained in positive territory.


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