BREAKING: ZEW data show improvement in German economic sentiment

• German economic sentiment ZEW (Dec.) actual: 12.8 vs. 9.8 previously; est 9.5
• German current external conditions (Dec.) actual: -77.1 vs -79.8 previously; est -76.0
• Eurozone global economic sentiment (Dec.) actual: 23.0 vs. 13.8 previously

Comments made by ZEW:

The renewed optimism - especially on the outlook - is due to the share of respondents expecting interest rate cuts by the ECB in the medium-term has doubled.

Despite the current budget crisis, the assessment of the situation and economic expectations for Germany have once again slightly improved.

The share of respondents expecting inflation rates to fall further is decreasing.