European Economic Data Review and Market Dynamics
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 16 2026
0mins
Should l Buy GF?
Source: seekingalpha
- Economic Growth Data: Switzerland's economy grew by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in Q4, indicating some economic resilience, although overall growth remains challenged, potentially affecting investor confidence.
- Unemployment Rate Change: Sweden's unemployment rate fell to 8.6% in January, a positive shift that may boost consumer spending and positively impact economic recovery.
- Narrowing Trade Surplus: Norway's trade surplus narrowed to NOK 75.9 billion in January, reflecting changes in the international trade environment that could influence future economic policies.
- Market Trading Dynamics: The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose by 0.27% to 619.4, showing signs of rebound after two days of declines, despite subdued global trading volumes due to holidays.
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Analyst Views on GF
Wall Street analysts forecast GF stock price to rise
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Current: 10.470
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Current: 10.470
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About GF
The New Germany Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation primarily through investment in middle-market German equities. The focus of the Fund's investments lies within Germany. Under normal market conditions at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets are invested in equity or equity-linked securities. The Fund invests in range of sectors, which include aerospace and defense; auto components; automobiles; banks; building products; chemicals; electrical equipment; independent power and renewable electricity producers; insurance; Internet and direct marketing retail; information technology (IT) services, life sciences tools and services; metals and mining; real estate management and development; software; textiles, apparel and luxury goods; trading companies and distributors; diversified financial services; commercial services and supplies, and others. The Fund's investment advisor is DWS International GmbH.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Year-over-Year Decline: Despite the month-over-month increase, the unemployment rate has decreased from 6.3% in February 2025, suggesting improvements in the labor market over the past year, which may support future economic growth.
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- Gas Futures Rebound: UK natural gas futures rose over 5% to 127 pence per therm, bouncing back from a one-month low, indicating a waning optimism for a quick resolution to the Middle East conflict, which could impact energy supply stability.
- European Gas Prices Rise: European natural gas futures increased nearly 6% to above €50 per MWh, recovering from a three-week low, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks that may lead to fluctuations in energy costs.
- Bond Yields Climb: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury rose by 5 basis points to 4.37%, while the UK's and Germany's 10-year yields increased by 6 and 3 basis points respectively, indicating market expectations for rising interest rates that could affect investor asset allocation.
- Stablecoin Regulation Proposal: Germany and Italy jointly proposed an EU-wide “kill switch” to swiftly ban foreign global stablecoins if they threaten financial stability or breach regulations, reflecting an increasing focus on fintech regulation.
See More
Germany and Italy Propose EU-Wide Stablecoin Regulation
- Regulatory Proposal: Germany and Italy have jointly proposed an EU-wide 'kill switch' mechanism that allows regulators to abruptly ban stablecoins threatening financial stability or breaching rules, thereby enhancing the flexibility and effectiveness of financial oversight.
- Cross-Border Liquidity Assurance: The proposal ensures that reserves backing stablecoins can be swiftly mobilized during times of stress, and if cross-border liquidity cannot be guaranteed, regulators could halt or restrict the stablecoin's use in the EU, aiming to protect market stability.
- Concerns Over Market Dominance: EU policymakers are increasingly worried about the dominance of dollar-backed stablecoins in the market, which could undermine Europe's financial autonomy, thus necessitating prompt action to address potential risks.
- Urgency of Action: Germany and Italy stress the need to embed these safeguards into the ongoing Market Integration and Supervision Package (MISP) negotiations by 2026-2027 to align with the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) timelines, ensuring financial stability and consumer protection.
See More
Germany Manufacturing PMI Rises to 52.2 in March
- PMI Increase: Germany's Manufacturing PMI rose to 52.2 in March from 50.9 in February, marking the highest level since May 2022, indicating resilience and recovery potential in the manufacturing sector amid the Middle East conflict.
- Intensified Cost Pressures: Input cost inflation recorded its largest single-month increase due to surging oil and gas prices, which heightens cost pressures on businesses and may impact future profitability and pricing strategies.
- Significant Supply Chain Delays: Supply chain delays have worsened, with input lead times extending to their highest levels since mid-2022; however, businesses reported growth in output and new orders, reflecting resilient market demand.
- Declining Business Expectations: Despite the PMI increase, business expectations sharply retreated to a four-month low, indicating weakened confidence in future economic conditions, which could affect investment decisions and market activity.
See More
Euro Area Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.20%
- Unemployment Rate Increase: In February 2026, the Euro Area's unemployment rate rose to 6.20% from January's 6.1%, exceeding the expected 6.1%, indicating economic recovery fragility that could impact consumer confidence and spending.
- Year-over-Year Decline: Despite the month-over-month increase, the unemployment rate has decreased from 6.3% in February 2025, suggesting improvements in the labor market over the past year, which may support future economic growth.
- Modest Production and New Orders Growth: The Euro Area recorded slight increases in both production and new orders, although specific figures were not disclosed, this trend may reflect a gradual recovery in economic activity, boosting market confidence in recovery.
- Surge in German Input Costs: Germany's input cost inflation has surged to its highest level since October, potentially putting pressure on corporate profit margins and affecting the overall economic growth outlook.
See More
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- UK Economic Performance: The London stock market rose by 1.40% to 10,324 points, reflecting optimistic market sentiment towards economic recovery, particularly as the British pound climbed back to around $1.33, moving away from four-month lows.
- German Inflation Pressure: Germany's input cost inflation surged to its highest level since October, indicating worsening supply chain issues that could negatively impact corporate profits and consumer spending.
- Euro Area Production and Orders: The Euro Area recorded modest upticks in both production and new orders, reflecting a gradual recovery in economic activity despite ongoing price and supply chain pressures, potentially laying the groundwork for future economic recovery.
- Rising Unemployment Rates: Unemployment rates in Italy and Austria rose to 5.3% and 7.5%, respectively, highlighting vulnerabilities in the labor market that could affect consumer confidence and spending.
See More
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- Manufacturing Sector Recovery: The Eurozone Manufacturing PMI increased from 50.8 in February to 51.6 in March, marking the highest level since mid-2022, indicating a gradual recovery in manufacturing that could support economic growth after years of stagnation.
- Supply Chain Challenges: The war in the Middle East has sharply increased supplier delivery times, as logistics markets adjust to maritime disruptions, further complicating operational challenges for manufacturers and potentially impacting production efficiency and delivery capabilities.
- Rising Cost Pressures: Surging oil and energy prices have pushed factory input cost inflation to its highest level since late 2022, with this cost increase likely being passed through to final prices, thereby weakening the Eurozone's competitiveness in global markets.
- Uncertain Demand Outlook: Although the manufacturing sector had been gaining momentum since early 2026, the inflationary pressures driven by the war may place renewed pressure on demand, with economists warning that this could affect future market demand and production decisions.
See More
