german investor confidence rose again in february a key survey showed tuesday as expectations grew that europes largest economy would dodge a deep downturn the zew institute’s economic expectations index jumped by 112 points to 281 points the fifth consecutive monthly increase lifting the indicator to its highest level since the russian invasion of ukraine was launched a year ago analysts surveyed by factset had predicted a smaller boost in morale to 23 points the report comes amid growing signs that germany has weathered the fallout from the ukraine war better than initially feared falling energy prices and support measures unveiled by the german government in recent months have eased concerns about a costofliving squeeze while chinas easing of strict covid restrictions has buoyed german exporters the german government said last month that it now expected the country to avoid a recession this year and eke out growth of 02 percent the increased optimism stems from higher profit expectations in the energy and exportoriented sectors as well as the consumerrelated parts of the economy zew president achim wambach said in a statement expectations for longterm interest rates are also rising and the banking sector indicator has reached its highest level since 2004 he added the outlook for the german economy was still mixed cautioned lbbw bank economist jensoliver niklasch pointing to persistent struggles in the industrial and construction sectors but all in all he said the economy has remained relatively robust