(Alliance News) - European equity markets began the week on a cautious note. Investor sentiment remains guarded amid persistent geopolitical tensions with Iran, further amplified by US President Trump's remarks regarding the potential "seizure" of Iranian oil assets, including the strategic Kharg Island terminal.

Consequently, the FTSE MIB is currently trading down 0.2% at 43,286.99 points.

London's FTSE 100 - the sole gainer - is up 0.2%, while the CAC 40 in Paris has shed 0.1% and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is down 0.3%.

Among Italy's secondary indices, the Mid-Cap is down 1.2% at 52,184.68, the Small-Cap has retreated 1.0% to 31,892.36, and the Italy Growth closed 0.1% lower at 8,305.76.

On the MIB, Terna is performing well, rising 1.1% to EUR9.67, following a 0.9% gain on Friday evening.

Snam advanced 1.2% to EUR6.45 per share, after a 0.9% rise in the previous session.

Conversely, Banca Monte dei Paschi is shedding 1.2%. Barring any surprises, Fabrizio Palermo and Nicola Maione are set to lead Monte dei Paschi for the next three years. Their candidacies, backed by Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, gained momentum after the board excluded former CEO Luigi Lovaglio from its slate, leaving the choice between multiple names to the shareholders' meeting under the new Capital Act.

As reported by Corriere della Sera on Monday, the alternative candidacy of Lovaglio, supported by Plt Holding with Cesare Bisoni as chairman, has increased uncertainty. However, markets have reacted coolly to this option, and Palermo has rapidly emerged as the only viable candidate, with Corrado Passera moving to the sidelines.

DiaSorin - down 0.6% - announced on Friday that it purchased 370,663 of its own ordinary shares between March 24 and March 27. The shares were acquired at an average unit price of EUR58.86, for a total consideration of EUR21.8 million.

The board of directors of Telecom Italia - up 0.6% - has resolved to terminate the Master Service Agreement with Inwit - down 2.5% - opening a new front of tension between the two companies regarding telecommunications towers.

The termination, formally communicated to Inwit, will take effect upon the contractual expiry in August 2030, but could be brought forward to March 31, 2028, should the change-of-control clause linked to the 2020 transactions be deemed applicable. According to TIM, the decision is part of its infrastructure cost optimization strategy and the group's industrial options. TIM also indicated its intention to initiate discussions with Inwit to define a multi-year migration plan to ensure operational continuity, while leaving the door open to renegotiating the economic and service terms of the agreement.

In the mid-cap segment, ERG is advancing 1.6% to EUR21.66 per share, rebounding from a 1.3% loss in the previous session.

Salvatore Ferragamo, however, is down 0.2% at EUR6.38 per share. Notably, Bernstein raised its target price to EUR7.50 from EUR4.40 per share.

Danieli & C is trading flat at EUR59.50 per share. Berenberg confirmed its "buy" recommendation on the stock with a target price of EUR66.00 for ordinary shares and EUR51.00 for savings shares, unchanged from its previous valuation. Analysts continue to see a sustained and visible growth profile driven by the evolution of the order book.

In the report authored by Giovanni Selvetti, the bank highlights that despite geopolitical tensions related to the conflict in Iran and potential negative effects on the steel sector through rising energy costs, Danieli has once again demonstrated the resilience of its business model.

Philogen - down 1.8% - announced on Friday that 2025 closed with a net profit of EUR229.7 million, a sharp increase from the EUR45.3 million recorded in 2024. The board will propose a dividend of EUR0.70 per share, for an estimated total amount of approximately EUR28.2 million, with payment scheduled from May 20.

On the Small-Cap index, Bastogi is performing well, rising 3.9% to EUR1.08 per share after a 1.0% loss on Friday evening.

Strength is also seen in Gas Plus, which is up 2.9% following a 5.5% decline in the last session.

Trevi Finanziaria Industriale - which is plunging by over 19% - announced that it closed the 2025 financial year with a profit of EUR8.1 million, up from EUR1.5 million the previous year. Furthermore, the board approved the 2026-2030 industrial plan and a new financial maneuver. Regarding the 2025 results, revenues amounted to EUR624.0 million, down from EUR663.3 million in 2024.

PLC - flat at EUR2.43 per share - announced on Friday that its subsidiaries PLC System Srl and PLC Service Srl have signed - both in a temporary joint venture with Huawei Italia Srl – two contracts with a Neoen group special purpose vehicle for a 25 MW energy storage plant in the province of Udine. The contracts cover the construction and commissioning of the plant, including grid connection works such as the HV/MV transformer station and HV-MV cable ducts, as well as the operation & maintenance of the electrical infrastructure and the plant itself for a 20-year period.

Among SMEs, Doxee shows strength, with its price rising 4.3% to 4.09 per share.

Yakkyo - not yet traded - announced on Friday that it closed 2025 with a net profit of EUR820,000, a 65% increase compared to the EUR499,000 recorded as of December 31, 2024. Sales revenues grew by 54%, rising to EUR19.4 million from EUR12.6 million in the previous year.

Digital Value is trading flat at EUR29.00. OEP Danzig BidCo has increased its stake in Digital Value to 69.2% of the share capital, crossing the 66.7% threshold following market purchases made between March 6 and March 27. The transaction is part of the mandatory total tender offer launched by OEP Danzig BidCo, aimed at acquiring the company's entire capital and, in any case, achieving a delisting.

Cofle, meanwhile, is shedding 6.3% to EUR2.39 per share, after a 0.8% gain in the previous session.

In New York on Friday evening, the Dow Jones closed down 1.7%, the Nasdaq retreated 2.2%, while the S&P 500 posted a 1.7% loss.

The Nikkei closed down 2.8%, the Shanghai Composite advanced 0.2%, while the Hang Seng is currently down 1.3%.

On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1497 from USD1.1519 on Friday evening, while the pound is trading at USD1.3277 from USD1.3283 on Friday evening.

Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD116.00 per barrel from USD111.44 per barrel on Friday evening, while gold is valued at USD4,518.07 per ounce from USD4,514.78 per ounce on Friday evening.

On Monday's economic calendar, the Italian producer price index and Germany's consumer price index will be available at 1000 CEST.

At 1630 CEST, a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Powell is scheduled, followed by Williams at 2230 CEST.

Among Piazza Affari companies, the corporate calendar is packed with earnings releases.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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