German business sentiment improves in March - ZEW

German business sentiment improved in March, according to a survey released on Tuesday by the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim.

The headline ZEW investor expectations index rose to 31.7, up 11.8 points from February.

Meanwhile, the he indicator for the current economic situation ticked up just 1.2 points to -80.5.

ZEW President Achim Wambach said: "Economic expectations for Germany are significantly improving. At the same time, more than 80 per cent of those surveyed anticipate that the ECB will cut interest rates in the next six months. This could explain the more optimistic outlook for the German construction industry.

"The German export sector benefits from the increased economic expectations for China as well as the expected depreciation of the dollar against the euro. Meanwhile, the assessment of the economic situation remains at a very low level. This development somewhat diminishes the increased economic expectations."