Investor sentiment across the euro zone improved modestly in May, suggesting financial markets are beginning to price in a lower risk of immediate escalation in the Iran conflict, though the bloc’s largest economy, Germany, continued to show signs of deepening economic strain.
Data released Monday by Sentix showed its euro zone investor morale index rose to -16.4 in May from -19.2 in April, outperforming analyst expectations compiled by Reuters, which had projected a decline to -21.0.
The improvement indicates investors are becoming somewhat less pessimistic about the broader European outlook even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to threaten energy markets, trade flows and inflation stability.
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Still, the overall index remains firmly in negative territory, underscoring that confidence across the currency bloc remains fragile and recession risks have not disappeared.
“However, both indices remain in negative territory, meaning the risk of recession remains acute,” Sentix said.
The survey, conducted between April 30 and May 2 among 984 investors, showed gains in both forward-looking expectations and assessments of current economic conditions. The expectations index improved to -11.3 from -15.5 in April, while the current conditions gauge rose modestly to -21.5 from -22.8. The data suggests investors believe the euro zone economy may be stabilizing after months of pressure from high borrowing costs, weak industrial activity, and geopolitical uncertainty tied to the Iran war.
Markets appear increasingly convinced that the conflict, while highly disruptive to oil markets, may not spiral into a wider regional war severe enough to trigger a full-scale economic shock across Europe.
That shift in sentiment is important because Europe remains highly vulnerable to energy disruptions. The Iran conflict has pushed oil prices sharply higher since February, raising fears of another inflationary wave just as the European economy was beginning to recover from years of energy instability linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Analysts say the modest improvement in morale may also reflect expectations that governments and central banks are better prepared to manage energy volatility than they were during previous crises. At the same time, investors appear to believe Europe’s slowing inflation trend could eventually give the European Central Bank more room to ease monetary policy if economic conditions deteriorate further.
Sentix’s inflation barometer remained deeply negative at -42.75 in May, only slightly above the annual low recorded in April, reinforcing expectations that inflationary pressures inside the euro zone economy itself remain relatively subdued even as oil prices stay elevated globally.
That dynamic presents a complicated picture for policymakers. On one hand, higher energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict threaten to reignite imported inflation. On the other, weak domestic demand and sluggish industrial activity continue suppressing broader price pressures within Europe.
The divergence is becoming particularly visible in Germany, where investor confidence deteriorated further even as sentiment improved across much of the euro zone. Germany’s Sentix index fell to -30.9 in May from -27.7 in April, making it one of the weakest readings among major European economies.
“Germany finds itself not only in a government crisis but also in a distinct economic trajectory of its own,” Sentix said.
The worsening outlook highlights the structural pressures confronting Europe’s largest economy. Germany has struggled with weak manufacturing output, falling industrial competitiveness, elevated energy costs, and declining export momentum, particularly in sectors tied to heavy industry and automobiles.
The country’s economic model, long built around export-driven manufacturing and relatively cheap industrial energy, has come under sustained pressure from geopolitical fragmentation and shifting global trade dynamics. The Iran conflict has added another layer of strain by keeping oil and shipping costs elevated at a time when German manufacturers are already contending with softer global demand and growing competition from Chinese firms.
Political uncertainty has also become a growing factor weighing on investor confidence. Germany’s coalition government has faced mounting internal tensions over fiscal policy, industrial subsidies and defense spending, contributing to perceptions that Berlin lacks a coherent long-term economic strategy.
Economists increasingly warn that Germany risks becoming a drag on broader eurozone growth if industrial investment and consumer confidence continue weakening.
The Sentix figures also support a wider divergence now emerging inside Europe. Southern European economies tied more closely to tourism and services have generally shown greater resilience, while manufacturing-heavy economies remain more exposed to energy shocks and global trade disruptions.
For financial markets, the latest survey suggests investors are not yet pricing in a catastrophic scenario from the Iran war, even though oil prices remain elevated and the Strait of Hormuz continues to operate under heavy geopolitical tension. But the data also makes clear that confidence remains highly fragile. A renewed escalation in the Middle East, another spike in energy prices, or worsening political instability inside Europe could quickly reverse the modest improvement seen in May.
The broader concern among economists is that Europe may be entering a prolonged period of low growth, weak industrial expansion, and recurring geopolitical shocks, conditions that could leave the eurozone economy increasingly vulnerable even in the absence of a formal recession.