Euro Zone Growth Exceeds Expectations: ETFs in Focus

Economic Performance - Eurozone GDP rose by 0.1% quarter on quarter, surpassing forecasts of no change, driven by strong performances from Spain, France, and Ireland, despite contractions in Germany and Italy [2] - Year-on-year growth for the Eurozone was 1.4%, exceeding analysts' expectations of 1.2%, although it represents a slowdown from the 0.6% growth in the first quarter [3] Business Activity and Momentum - The first two quarters of the year indicate steady underlying momentum, supported by improved business activity reflected in better-than-expected Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, driven by a robust services sector and a manufacturing recovery [4] Trade Agreements and Economic Outlook - Recent trade agreements between the U.S. and the EU, along with similar deals with Japan and the UK, have contributed to a more stable economic outlook, although these agreements may impose higher tariffs that could reduce Eurozone growth by an estimated 0.2 to 0.4 percentage points annually [5] ECB Policy Implications - The resilience of the Eurozone economy is likely to influence ECB policy, with markets assigning only a 50% probability to another rate cut by December, and a modest expectation for rate increases by the end of 2026 if economic growth and inflationary pressures return [6] Investment Trends - Investors should closely monitor Eurozone ETFs, with iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) losing 0.6% in the past month, while Vanguard European Stock Index Fund ETF (VGK) retreated 0.8% [9] - iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF (HEZU) performed better than EZU due to currency hedging, while the U.S. dollar showed strength against the Euro [10]