Survey finds German investor optimism on the rise

FRANKFURT, Germany - A closely-watched survey of investor optimism in Germany rose in October, in an upbeat sign for the eurozone's largest economy.

The ZEW survey rose by more than expected to minus 11.5 from minus 18.2 in September. Markets had expected a reading of minus 14.9.

The ZEW, or the Center for European Economic Research, said Tuesday that the results show "that risks for the German economy have somewhat diminished."

Germany has kept on growing despite the debt problems afflicting a number of countries that use the euro. But it is going through a shaky patch because the troubled eurozone countries are major trading partners.

Germany grew only 0.3 percent in the second quarter and economists differ over whether the economy could shrink slightly in the latter part of this year.