Higher Costs Drive ZEW German Investor Outlook Lower
/*jshint esversion: 6 */
var socket;
var assigned_server = 3001;
var distributor_server = 3010;
var publisher_channel = '';
var broadcaster_channel = '';
var remote_ip = '';
var session_info = {};
var logging_interval;
var logging_interval_time = 120000;
var socket_emits = 0;
var session_start_time;
var reconnectionDelayGrowFactor = 1.2;
var reconnection_delay = 1000;
var playing = false;
var connected_to_assigned = false;
var socket_close_timeout;
var player_disconnected_annoucement_play_delay = 1500;
var player_disconnected_annoucement_play_timeout = null;
const TOKEN_ENDPOINT = "https://www.livesquawk.com/api/get_token.php";
self.onmessage = function (msg) {
switch(msg.data.action) {
case 'Reactivate': reactivate(); break;
case 'ConnectDistributor': connect_to_distributor(msg); break;
case 'SessionStaticInfo': session_static_info(msg); break;
case 'SessionInfo': update_session_info(msg.data); break;
case 'PauseLogging': clearTimeout(logging_interval); break;
case 'RestartLogging': postMessage({action: 'RequestSessionStaticInfo' }); break;
case 'JoinPublisherChannel': join_publisher_channel(msg.data); break;
case 'JoinPlayerChannel': join_player_channel(msg.data); break;
case 'CheckChannelStatus': check_channel_status(msg.data); break;
case 'PlayerLogResponse': player_log_response(msg.data); break;
case 'CloseSocket': close_socket(); break;
case 'RequestMessageSearch': request_message_search(msg.data); break;
case 'RequestMoreMessages': request_more_messages(msg.data); break;
case 'PlayerDisconnectedAnnoucementTimeoutStart': player_disconnected_annoucement_timeout_start(); break;
case 'PlayerDisconnectedAnnoucementTimeoutClear': player_disconnected_annoucement_timeout_clear(); break;
case 'GetConnectionState': checkSocketConnectionState(); break;
}
};
function player_disconnected_annoucement_timeout_clear() {
clearTimeout(player_disconnected_annoucement_play_timeout);
player_disconnected_annoucement_play_timeout = null;
}
function player_disconnected_annoucement_timeout_start() {
player_disconnected_annoucement_play_timeout = setTimeout(function() { send_play_disconnect_annoucement(); }, player_disconnected_annoucement_play_delay );
}
function send_play_disconnect_annoucement() {
postMessage({action: "PlayDisconnectAnnoucement"});
}
function reactivate() {
playing = false;
connect_to_assigned_server();
}
function player_log_response(data) {
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'PlayerLogResponse';
data_array.respond_to_socket_final = data.respond_to_socket_final;
data_array.respond_to_socket = data.respond_to_socket;
data_array.player_socket_id = data.player_socket_id;
data_array.logs = data.logs;
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
function request_message_search(data) {
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'request_message_search';
data_array.publisher_channel = data.publisher_channel;
data_array.search_term = data.search_term;
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
function request_more_messages(data) {
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'request_more_messages';
data_array.publisher_channel = data.publisher_channel;
data_array.last_record_id = data.last_record_id;
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
function check_channel_status(data) {
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'check_channel_status';
data_array.app_name = data.app_name;
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1 && connected_to_assigned) { socket.send(msg_string); }
else { setTimeout(function() { check_channel_status(data); },500); }
}
function check_channel_status_response(data) {
postMessage({ action: 'CheckChannelStatusReponse', stream_status: data.stream_status.status, onair: data.stream_status.onair, connected: data.stream_status.connected });
}
async function join_publisher_channel(data) {
if (typeof data.jwt_token === 'string' && data.jwt_token !== '') {
if (!socket || socket.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN) {
console.warn("[Page worker] JWT join skipped: socket not open");
return;
}
socket.send(JSON.stringify({
type: "join_publisher_channel",
jwt_token: data.jwt_token,
publisher_channel: data.publisher_channel,
username: data.username,
subscriber_group: data.subscriber_group,
display_name: data.display_name,
single_sign_on: data.single_sign_on,
remote_ip: data.remote_ip,
http_referrer: data.http_referrer,
current_page: data.current_page,
php_session_id: data.php_session_id,
from_react: data.from_react,
...(typeof data.api_key === "string" && data.api_key.trim() !== "" ? { api_key: data.api_key } : {}),
}));
console.log("[Page worker] Sent supplied JWT join");
postMessage({ action: 'PublisherChannelJoined' });
return;
}
const joinSocket = socket; if (!joinSocket || joinSocket.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN) { return; }
const apiKey = typeof data.api_key === "string" ? data.api_key.trim() : "";
const partnerName = partnerFromCurrentPage(data.current_page);
let tokenBody;
if (apiKey !== "") { tokenBody = { api_key: apiKey }; }
else if (partnerName) { tokenBody = { partner_name: partnerName }; }
else { tokenBody = { username: data.username || "", publisher_channel: data.publisher_channel || "", }; }
let jwtToken = null;
try {
const requestStartedAt = Date.now();
const response = await fetch(TOKEN_ENDPOINT, {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify(tokenBody),
credentials: "same-origin",
cache: "no-store",
});
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`token endpoint returned ${response.status}`);
}
const tokenData = await response.json();
if ( !tokenData || typeof tokenData.token !== "string" || tokenData.token === "" ) {
throw new Error("token endpoint returned no token");
}
const expiresIn = Number(tokenData.expires_in);
if (!Number.isFinite(expiresIn) || expiresIn <= 0) {
throw new Error("token endpoint returned an invalid lifetime");
}
const expiresAt = requestStartedAt + (expiresIn * 1000);
if (expiresAt <= Date.now() + 30000) {
throw new Error("token response has insufficient remaining lifetime");
}
jwtToken = tokenData.token;
}
catch (error) {
console.warn("[Page worker] Token request failed", error);
// API-key requests must not silently bypass token authentication.
if (apiKey !== "") { postMessage({ action: "auth_failed" }); return; }
}
// A reconnect during the fetch makes this join attempt obsolete.
if ( socket !== joinSocket || joinSocket.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN ) { return; }
const payload = {
type: "join_publisher_channel",
publisher_channel: data.publisher_channel,
username: data.username,
subscriber_group: data.subscriber_group,
display_name: data.display_name,
single_sign_on: data.single_sign_on,
remote_ip: data.remote_ip,
http_referrer: data.http_referrer,
current_page: data.current_page,
php_session_id: data.php_session_id,
from_react: data.from_react,
};
if (apiKey !== "") { payload.api_key = apiKey; }
if (jwtToken) { payload.jwt_token = jwtToken; }
console.log( jwtToken ? "[Page worker] Sending fetched JWT with legacy details" : "[Page worker] Sending legacy join without JWT" );
joinSocket.send(JSON.stringify(payload));
postMessage({ action: "PublisherChannelJoined" });
}
function partnerFromCurrentPage(current_page) {
try {
if (!current_page) return '';
const fullUrl = current_page.startsWith('http') ? current_page : `https://${current_page}`;
return new URL(fullUrl).searchParams.get('partner_name') || '';
} catch (e) { return ''; }
}
function session_static_info(msg) {
set_static_session_info(msg.data);
start_log();
}
function connect_to_distributor(msg) {
publisher_channel = msg.data.publisher_channel;
remote_ip = msg.data.remote_ip;
socket = new WebSocket("wss://ws.livesquawk.com/ws"+distributor_server);
socket.onopen = function(event) { request_server_assignment(); };
socket.onmessage = function(event) {
var msg_string = event.data.toString();
var data = JSON.parse(msg_string);
switch(data.type) {
case 'server_assignment_response': server_assignment_response(data); break;
}
};
}
function session_info_interval() {
postMessage({action: 'RequestSessionInfo' });
logging_interval = setTimeout(session_info_interval,logging_interval_time);
}
function server_assignment_response(data) {
assigned_server = data.selected_server;
socket.close();
connect_to_assigned_server();
}
function request_server_assignment() {
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'request_server_assignment';
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
function connect_to_assigned_server() {
socket = new WebSocket("wss://ws.livesquawk.com/ws"+assigned_server);
socket.onopen = function(event) {
postMessage({ action: 'VisibleConsole',console_string: "Connected to server "+assigned_server });
console.log("Connected to server "+assigned_server);
postMessage({ action: 'ConnectedToAssigned' });
connected_to_assigned = true;
if (playing) {
postMessage({ action: 'RejoinPlayerChannel' });
}
};
socket.onmessage = function(event) {
var msg_string = event.data.toString();
var data = JSON.parse(msg_string);
if (data.type != 'server_ping') { /* console.log(data.type); */ }
switch(data.type) {
case 'reconnect': postMessage({ action: 'VisibleConsole',console_string: "Reconnected" }); break;
case 'reload': postMessage({ action: 'Reload' }); break;
case 'start_log_response': start_log_response(data); break;
case 'application_refresh_start': application_refresh_start(data); break;
case 'application_refresh_stop': application_refresh_stop(data); break;
case 'player_log_request':
case 'check_channel_status_response': check_channel_status_response(data); break;
case 'PlayerLogRequest':
case 'new_tweet':
case 'new_latest_news':
case 'delete_report':
case 'add_report':
case 'add_ref_doc':
case 'calendar_change':
case 'calendar_insert':
case 'calendar_delete':
case 'new_note':
case 'AppStart':
case 'AppStop':
case 'BroadcasterStarted':
case 'BroadcasterStopped':
case 'added_cme_report':
case 'updated_cme_report':
case 'added_cme_commentary':
case 'updated_cme_commentary':
case 'server_assignment_response':
case 'initial_messages':
case 'message_categories':
case 'more_messages':
case 'matched_messages':
pass_straight_to_post_message(data);
break;
case 'output':
case 'server_ping':
case 'reconnect':
case 'disconnect':
break;
}
};
socket.onerror = function(event) {
postMessage({ action: 'VisibleConsole',console_string: "LS Socket Error" + event.type });
console.log(event);
postMessage({ action: 'LSSocketConnectionError' });
};
socket.onclose = function(event) {
console.log('Socket is closed. Reconnect will be attempted in 1 second.', event.reason);
socket_close_timeout = setTimeout(connect_to_assigned_server, reconnection_delay);
reconnection_delay = reconnection_delay*reconnectionDelayGrowFactor;
connected_to_assigned = false;
};
}
function checkSocketConnectionState() {
postMessage({ action: 'SocketConnectionState', connected: Boolean(socket && socket.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN && connected_to_assigned ), });
}
function close_socket() {
clearTimeout(socket_close_timeout);
socket_close_timeout = null;
socket.onclose = function(event) {};
socket.onmessage = function(event) {};
socket.onerror = function(event) {};
socket.close(1000);
console.log('Socket Closed');
}
function pass_straight_to_post_message(data) {
data.action = data.type;
postMessage(data);
}
function join_player_channel(data) {
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'join_player_channel';
data_array.player_channel = data.player_channel;
data_array.remote_ip = data.remote_ip;
data_array.username = data.username;
data_array.app_name = data.app_name;
data_array.onair_status = data.onair_status;
data_array.http_referrer = data.http_referrer;
data_array.current_page = data.current_page;
data_array.php_session_id = data.php_session_id;
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
postMessage({action: 'PlayerChannelJoined' });
playing = true;
}
function start_log_response(data) {
session_info.session_id = data.log_record_id;
session_info_interval();
}
function application_refresh_start(data) {
if (data.app_name == session_info.application_name) { postMessage({action: 'ApplicationRefreshStart' }); }
}
function application_refresh_stop(data) {
if (data.app_name == session_info.application_name) { postMessage({action: 'ApplicationRefreshStop' }); }
}
function set_static_session_info(data) {
session_info.browser_codename = data.browser_codename;
session_info.browser_name = data.browser_name;
session_info.user_agent = data.user_agent;
session_info.browser_version = data.browser_version;
session_info.cookies_enabled = data.cookies_enabled;
session_info.platform = data.platform;
session_info.player_version = data.player_version;
session_info.stream = data.stream;
session_info.connection_protocol = data.protocol;
session_info.delay_target = data.delay_target;
session_info.session_email = data.session_email;
session_info.remote_ip = data.remote_ip;
session_info.php_session_id = data.php_session_id;
session_info.application_name = data.application_name;
session_info.http_referrer = data.http_referrer;
}
function start_log() {
var session_start_date = new Date();
session_start_time = session_start_date.getTime();
var months = ['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun','Jul','Aug','Sep','Oct','Nov','Dec'];
var session_start_date_string = session_start_date.getDate() + " " + months[session_start_date.getMonth()] + " " + session_start_date.getFullYear();
var data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'webrtc_start_log';
data_array.remote_ip = session_info.remote_ip;
data_array.username = session_info.session_email;
data_array.php_session_id = session_info.php_session_id;
data_array.webrtc_protocol = '';
data_array.session_start_time = (session_start_time/1000).toFixed(0);
data_array.stream_name = session_info.stream;
data_array.session_start_date = session_start_date_string;
var msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
function update_session_info(data) {
var data_array = {};
var msg_string = '';
var current_date = new Date();
var current_time = current_date.getTime();
session_info.protocol = data.protocol;
session_info.curr_delay = (data.effective_latency / 1000).toFixed(2);
session_info.session_length = current_time - session_start_time;
session_info.ping_time = data.ping_time;
session_info.jitter = data.jitter;
session_info.packet_loss = data.packet_loss;
session_info.effective_latency = data.effective_latency;
session_info.mean_opinion_score = data.mean_opinion_score;
session_info.restarts = data.restarts;
if (socket_emits == 0) {
data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'webrtc_log_data_full';
data_array.connection_protocol = session_info.protocol;
data_array.threshold = 0;
data_array.curr_delay = session_info.curr_delay;
data_array.session_length = session_info.session_length;
data_array.date = current_time;
data_array.browser_codename = session_info.browser_codename;
data_array.browser_name = session_info.browser_name;
data_array.user_agent = session_info.user_agent;
data_array.browser_version = session_info.browser_version;
data_array.cookies_enabled = session_info.cookies_enabled;
data_array.platform = session_info.platform;
data_array.player_version = session_info.player_version;
data_array.stream = session_info.stream;
data_array.restarts = session_info.restarts;
data_array.delay_target = 0;
data_array.op_sys = '';
data_array.flash_version = '';
data_array.remote_ip = session_info.remote_ip;
data_array.http_referrer = session_info.http_referrer;
data_array.php_session_id = session_info.php_session_id;
data_array.user_email = session_info.session_email;
data_array.webrtc_protocol = session_info.protocol;
data_array.ping_time = session_info.ping_time;
data_array.jitter = session_info.jitter;
data_array.packet_loss = session_info.packet_loss;
data_array.effective_latency = session_info.effective_latency;
data_array.mean_opinion_score = session_info.mean_opinion_score;
data_array.session_id = session_info.session_id;
msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
else {
data_array = {};
data_array.type = 'webrtc_log_data';
data_array.session_id = session_info.session_id;
data_array.php_session_id = session_info.php_session_id;
data_array.connection_protocol = session_info.protocol;
data_array.restarts = session_info.restarts;
data_array.threshold = 0;
data_array.curr_delay = session_info.curr_delay;
data_array.session_length = session_info.session_length;
data_array.date = current_time;
data_array.webrtc_protocol = session_info.protocol;
data_array.ping_time = session_info.ping_time;
data_array.jitter = session_info.jitter;
data_array.packet_loss = session_info.packet_loss;
data_array.effective_latency = session_info.effective_latency;
data_array.mean_opinion_score = session_info.mean_opinion_score;
data_array.stream = session_info.stream;
msg_string = JSON.stringify(data_array);
if (socket.readyState == 1) { socket.send(msg_string); }
}
socket_emits++;
if (socket_emits == 100) { socket_emits = 0; }
}
- Energy prices hurting consumption, investment – ZEW
- Current situation surprises to upside, still negative
- Euro area outlook sinks
By Eric Culp, European Editor
LiveSquawk News
@eculp.bsky.social
@EricCulpLS
20 October 2026 | 09:55 GMT
FRANKFURT – Forward-looking Investor sentiment in Europe’s largest economy fell for the first time in six months due to rising costs related to the Iran War.
Germany’s ZEW thinktank said Tuesday that its expectations indicator for the coming half-year sank to 28.1 points in October versus the market forecast of 30.0 and the September result of 34.7.
“The decline in sentiment comes as no surprise, as energy prices remain at very high levels, and the rise in interest rates and yields also tends to act as a drag,” Helaba said in a note.
The ECB raised interest rates last month by 25 basis points, the second such hike this year, with at least one more increase of that size likely before year’s end, according to analysts.
Europe’s economic engine sputters
Growth in the world’s third largest economy is on shaky ground, according to the chief of the German pollster. “The German economy is slowly emerging from stagnation, but the recovery is not self-sustaining,” ZEW President Achim Wambach warned. “Private consumption and investment remain weak because of high energy prices: They put real incomes under pressure, increase production costs and keep inflation higher for longer”
The DAX 40 index of German blue-chip stocks was down more than 1% versus a week ago in Frankfurt trading on Tuesday, and it was off more than 2% on the month.
The ZEW said its current conditions indicator for Germany improved to its best mark since May 2023, rising to -35.9 points versus -47.1 last month and the market estimate of –44.5. This gauge has been in negative territory for nearly five years.
The thinktank’s measure for the Eurozone’s outlook for the next six months dropped to 18.5 points to undershoot the market forecast of 23.6 and the 25.8 reading in September.
Despite a fourth-straight improvement in its current conditions reading, German pollster Sentix said last week that its overall index fell in this month. “These figures may not yet fully reflect the potential complete failure of reform efforts and the resulting strain on public finances. At the very least, the German economy is showing that it has not completely decoupled from the global economy.”
Even as the Sentix headline declined thanks to a worsening outlook, improved sentiment about the present makes sense: Both the OECD and IMF have raised their forecasts for German GDP growth this year to 1.1%, with the latter upwardly revising its 2027 outlook to that mark.
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