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Sentix research group's index tracking morale
among investors and analysts in the euro zone climbed to 18.6,
its highest level since August 2007, from 12.4 the previous
month.
That was far higher than the Reuters consensus forecast for a
reading of 15.0 and beat even the highest estimate for 17.5.
"The euro zone economy is showing definite signs of life," said
Manfed Huebner, managing director at Sentix, adding that low oil
prices and the weak euro were helping euro zone countries to get
back on their feet.
The ECB is due to start purchasing bonds on Monday in a bid to
hoist euro zone inflation from below zero back toward its goal
of just under 2 percent, and to boost economies in the
19-country bloc.
"Yields, which fell significantly in the run-up to this, are
having just as positive an impact on the economy as very
abundant liquidity for banks and the real economy," Huebner
said.
Investors were more optimistic about the future than at any time
since February 2006 and they were the most upbeat about the
current situation since May 2014.
An index tracking Germany hit an all-time high as investors'
perception of the current situation and their expectations
improved. Sentix attributed this to the ECB's attempt to boost
the weak euro zone economy and a weak euro, which should make
German exports more competitive.
The survey of 1,025 investors was conducted between March 5 and
March 7.
(Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Stephen Brown)
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