Eurozone
Eurozone sentiment fell due to concerns over Cyprus and the looming banking crisis in Slovenia. The zone is currently stumbling from one crisis to another, simply trying to put out bush-fires to keep the fragile single currency afloat ahead of the coming storm. The Italian election pushed the consumer index down last month and the month April seems to be repeating the negative sentiments due to Cyprus and Slovenia. The Eurozone has taken several punches in recent months and speculations over the viability of the currency are running wild. Italy is in limbo, Cyprus is in the middle of recapitalisation of its banking sector and Slovenia is about to request a bailout. Add to this the ailing economies of Spain and Greece and you have a sinking ship in your hands. Recently the austerity-championing northern European countries received flack for their insistence on fiscal responsibility, which critics say hurts weaker euro economies and their growth potential.