Investor confidence across the Eurozone has hit a 10-month low with the global economy now "on the brink". And UK business confidence has hit a three-year low, even though the British economy continues to grow.
An indicator monitoring sentiment across the 19-member bloc has fallen for the second month running, the lowest level since April of last year.
The Sentix Economic Index warned that the global economy was now "on the brink", led by a downturn in the United States. It said investors believed the interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in December couldn't have come at a worse time and that the loss of momentum over the last two months was "breath-taking".
"The US economy is on the verge of a downturn," it said. "The big picture hasn't changed at all," the Index warned.
"The global economy is on the brink as none of the regions covered by the sentix are sending signs of hope.
"Particularly battered are the regions of Latin America and Eastern Europe."
Meanwhile, a separate survey showed that business optimism among British companies has fallen to a three-year low, with Brexit fears adding to the gloom.
Reference: Independent
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