Euro zone sentiment improved in June for a second consecutive month helped by the European Central Bank's decision in May to cut interest rates to a new record low and by a calmer political environment. Eurozone sentiment rises in June helped by record low ECB rate BERLIN: Eurozone sentiment improved in June for a second consecutive month helped by the European Central Bank's decision in May to cut interest rates to a new record low and by a calmer political environment, a survey showed. Sentix research group said on Monday its monthly index tracking investor sentiment in the 17-nation currency bloc rose to -11.6 in June from -15.6 in May, falling short of a consensus forecast in a Reuters poll of economists for a rise to -10. "The euro zone index rose for a second consecutive month and appears to have quickly overcome its weakness in the early part of the year when elections in Italy and confusion over the Cyprus bailout weighed," Sentix said in a statement. A left-right government finally took power in Italy in late April, some two months after the election, while in Cyprus the parliament approved the painful bailout plan. "If latest trends continue in the next months then the euro zone can finally return to growth in the coming quarter," Sentix added. "This year optimism on growth came promptly in May," it said, noting the ECB gave an "important boost" with its rate cut. A sub-index of euro zone expectations rose to 7.3 in June from 2.8 in May, and the index on Germany also rose to 16.2 from a previous 15.2.

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