The April survey smashed analyst expectations, with those surveyed by Factset predicting a reading of -41.3 points. "The financial market experts are beginning to see a light at the end of the very long tunnel," ZEW chief Achim Wambach said in a statement. The surprise optimism comes despite a barrage of dire warnings for Europe's top economy as it confronts the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Some analysts cautioned against reading too much into the ZEW figure.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2020