Fewer expect euro drop-out

Far fewer investors now believe a member of the eurozone will be forced to abandon the currency over the next year.

A poll of 778 investors by research group Sentix last month showed that 25 per cent expect one or more states to leave the 17-nation bloc over the next year, against 32.7 per cent in November and a high of 73.3 per cent last June when the Sentix Euro Breakup Index was launched.

Bond buying of stricken euro members and German chancellor Angela Merkel’s support for Greece have helped to ease market tensions and prompted senior European officials, including German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to say the worst of the crisis is over.

Sentix says 22.5 per cent of investors still predict a Greek exit within the year.

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