FTSE MIB Inches Higher
The FTSE MIB rose 0.6% to 51,867 on Friday, amid increasingly intertwined merger talks in Italy’s financial sector. UniCredit rose 2.2% after indicating it could buy branches from Banco BPM (1.1%) if Credit Agricole were to take over the lender, and similarly from MPS (1.3%) if Intesa’s (1%) takeover bid goes through. The news adds further complexity to Milan's banking game, as Unipol (0.7%) had been set to receive a large portion of MPS’s branches if Intesa’s bid succeeds, while MPS had launched counterbids for Banca Generali and Banco BPM. Tech stocks STMicroelectronics (0.5%), Technoprobe (2.2%) and Prysmian advanced, tracking upbeat sentiment across the sector. Meanwhile energy stocks Eni (-1.2%), Tenaris (-1.9%) and Saipem (-0.3%) underperformed, however, tracking lower oil prices. Italy’s government is set to meet with refiners next month to discuss boosting production in an effort to lower fuel prices. It had previously extended its tax cuts on diesel through October.
6% to 51,867 on Friday, amid increasingly intertwined merger talks in Italy’s financial sector. 3%) if Intesa’s (1%) takeover bid goes through. 7%) had been set to receive a large portion of MPS’s branches if Intesa’s bid succeeds, while MPS had launched counterbids for Banca Generali and Banco BPM. 2%) and Prysmian advanced, tracking upbeat sentiment across the sector.
3%) underperformed, however, tracking lower oil prices. Italy’s government is set to meet with refiners next month to discuss boosting production in an effort to lower fuel prices. It had previously extended its tax cuts on diesel through October.