ZEW-CS Financial Market Test Switzerland - Economic Expectations Remain Positive

Economic expectations for Switzerland have reached a level of 36.4 points in January 2014. Compared to last month’s reading, this means only a slight decrease of the ZEW-CS-Indicator by 3.0 points. Therefore, the current change should rather be considered as a sideward movement of the indicator, which continues to hover at a high level and thereby sets a positive signal for Switzerland’s economic development.

The ZEW-CS Indicator reflects the expectations of the surveyed financial market experts regarding the economic development in Switzerland on a six-month time horizon. It is calculated monthly by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in cooperation with Credit Suisse (CS).

The indicator assessing the current economic situation in Switzerland also paints a positive picture: Half of the surveyed financial market experts evaluate the current economic environment as "good", half of them as "normal". The respective indicator thereby reaches a level of exactly 50.0 points. The assessment of the current economic situation in Switzerland has not been better since July 2011.

Expectations for the equity markets also recovered after suffering somewhat in the previous month. Although this month's reading of 48.8 points is not yet back at November's level of 54.1 points, the prospects for the Swiss equity market remain good. It seems that the initial tapering scare is digested.

For further information please contact

Lena Jaroszek (ZEW), Telefon +49 (0) 621/1235-380, E-Mail jaroszek@zew.de

Lukas Gehrig (Credit Suisse), Telefon +41 44 333 52 07, E-Mail lukas.gehrig@credit-suisse.com