German investor confidence climbs

German investor confidence jumped in April, beating economists' forecasts, as falling unemployment and a weaker euro improved the economic outlook.

The Mannheim-based ZEW Center for European Economic Research said its index of investor and analyst expectations rose to 53 from 44.5 in March. Economists predicted a gain to 45.1, according to the median of 36 forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey.

Germany's benchmark DAX share index has advanced three per cent in the past month.