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The
Sentix euro zone index fell to 17.4 points from January's 18.2.
The February reading from the Frankfurt-based research group was
exactly in line with the consensus forecast in a Reuters poll of
analysts.
"Investors are reacting to Donald Trump's first official acts
and see in these a burden for the global economy," Sentix said
in a statement.
Investors viewed the euro zone's current conditions more
favorably, with a sub-index rising in February to 20.5 - the
highest since May 2011 - from 16.5 in January.
Expectations for economic developments in the euro zone
deteriorated, slipping to 14.3 from 20.0. Sentix noted, however,
that the February expectations reading was still above
December's reading of 11.8.
An index tracking Germany, the euro zone's largest economy, fell
to 31.3 in February from 33.1 in January.
Trump has said the European Union has become a "vehicle" for
German interests and predicts that more member states would
leave the bloc as Britain did last June.
Trump has also warned German car companies that he would impose
a border tax of 35 percent on vehicles imported to the U.S.
market. His top trade adviser has accused Germany of using a
"grossly undervalued" euro to gain advantage over the United
States and its own EU partners.
Sentix polled 1,107 investors between Feb. 2 and Feb. 4.
(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Ruth Pitchford
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