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German investor morale sinks to three-year low on Iran war fears, ZEW finds

The ZEW index fell 16.7 points to minus 17.2 as energy costs and supply fears hit chemical and metals outlooks, the institute said.

  • On Tuesday, the ZEW economic research institute reported German investor morale fell to minus 17.2 points in April, marking the lowest level since December 2022 and significantly missing analyst expectations of minus 5.0 points.
  • Surging oil and gas prices triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran beginning February 28, combined with near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have burdened German manufacturers with unpredictable energy costs.
  • Steelmaker Georgsmarienhuette head Anne-Marie Grossmann warned hostilities are "having a massive effect on our costs," while the ZEW survey of 192 analysts showed sentiment in energy-intensive chemical and metal sectors plunged 11 and 21 points respectively.
  • The German government plans to halve its 2026 economic growth forecast to 0.5% on Wednesday, as ZEW head Achim Wambach said energy concerns are "holding back investment and undermining the impact of government stimulus measures."
  • Hauck Aufhaeuser Lampe Privatbank economist Alexander Krueger described a severe oil crisis as the "nightmare scenario," warning that economic growth this year will fall short of expectations held at the end of 2025.
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25 Articles

Lean Right

The index of economic sentiment in Germany measured...

·Brazil
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Center

More than 80 percent of German companies are now suffering from the consequences of the Iran war.

·Germany
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Bias Distribution

  • 42% of the sources are Center, 42% of the sources lean Right
42% Right

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berliner-sonntagsblatt.de broke the news on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
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