ZEW-CS Financial Market Test Switzerland - Recovery From Swiss Franc Shock Continues

CH Indicator of Economic Sentiment

In April 2015, expectations for Switzerland's economy brighten further, marking a continuation of the recovery of the economic outlook after the CHF shock at the start of 2015. The ZEW-CS indicator rises by 14.7 points to a reading of minus 23.2 points. 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), Mannheim, in cooperation with Credit Suisse (CS), Zurich.

The assessment of the present state of economic activity in Switzerland edged up barely perceptible from March to an April reading of minus 2.4 points. A strong majority of survey respondents considers economic activity in Switzerland to be in a "normal" state at the moment, which may be associated to the fact that the employment market in Switzerland continues to remain stable.

Economic expectations for the Eurozone remain positive according to analysts' assessments. Although the respective indicator receded by 9.1 points, it remains firmly in positive territory at a net assessment balance of 53.7 points. Securities purchases by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the continued low price of oil should continue to bolster economic expectations for the Eurozone.

Detailed Results

Detailed results are published in this month's edition of the "Financial Market Report Switzerland", which also includes the survey participants' assessment of developments in other countries:

http://www.zew.de/de/publikationen/finanzmarktreportschweiz/finanzmarktreportarchivschweiz.php?year=2015

For further information please contact

Lena Jaroszek (ZEW), Phone +49 (0)621 1235-380, E-mail jaroszek@zew.de

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