(Alliance News) - Major European indices finished higher on Monday, with strong performances from the MIB and the FTSE 100 as G7 ministers and central bank officials gathered to address the economic fallout of the war in the Middle East, which has spiked energy prices and sparked global economic concerns.
While inflation in Germany accelerated to 2.7% in March, economic sentiment in the Eurozone declined in line with expectations. The economic sentiment indicator for the euro area fell by 1.6 points month-on-month to 96.6 points in March.
The MIB ended trading up 1.0% at 43,823.24, the Mid-Cap rose 0.3% to 52,923.35, the Small-Cap contracted by 0.8% to 31,959.83, and Italy Growth fell 0.3% to 8,289.98.
Other European markets were positive: the CAC 40 gained 0.9%, matching the DAX 40, while the FTSE 100 climbed 1.6%.
"At this point," commented Chris Beauchamp of IG, "it is impossible to know whether negotiations between the US and Iran are actually taking place in some form or are just a figment of Trump's imagination. In any case, the impact of his interventions on the market is weakening, as we saw today."
"The brief rebound in equities quickly fizzled out: until investors see high-ranking US officials physically boarding a plane to Pakistan to negotiate, they will become increasingly skeptical," the analyst concluded.
In Piazza Affari, Telecom Italia - which closed up 0.7% - and CDP Venture Capital signed a memorandum of understanding "to identify high-potential innovative startups and SMEs of mutual interest, with technologies critical to digital sovereignty, belonging to the CDP Venture Capital portfolio or TIM's deal flow scouting, and to evaluate potential industrial, commercial, and technological collaboration initiatives."
Furthermore, TIM resolved to terminate the Master Service Agreement with Inwit, which ended the session up 1.5%, opening a new front of tension between the two companies regarding telecommunications towers.
Regarding banking consolidation, Fabrizio Palermo and Nicola Maione are set to lead Monte dei Paschi - which closed with daily losses of 0.9% - for the next three years, barring any surprises.
Their candidacies, backed by Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, gained momentum after the board excluded former CEO Luigi Lovaglio from its list, leaving the shareholders' meeting to choose between multiple names under the new Capital Act.
STM and Lottomatica closed in the red, down 2.0% and 1.4% respectively.
Ferrari, following a EUR24 million buyback, led the blue-chip index, rising 4.2% to EUR289.90 per share.
Utilities also saw buying interest: Terna, Eni, and Enel gained 3.4%, 2.6%, and 2.8% respectively.
On the Mid-Cap, Webuild - which fell 0.8% - signed a contract worth approximately EUR660 million for the construction of the first 6.5 kilometers of Phase 1A of Lot 1 of the new Naples Metro Line 10.
While many are reducing quality to contain costs, OVS - with daily gains of 4.0% - is focusing on better materials at affordable prices, a strategy that is paying off. Following the halt of the Kasanova acquisition, the group will develop Croff internally, focusing on design and creative collaborations. The goal is to take the brand beyond department stores and strengthen it in the home segment, replicating models like Zara or Uniqlo.
BFF Bank plummeted 55% to EUR1.433 per share after the Bank of Italy appointed two commissioners. At the other end of the basket, Salvatore Ferragamo rose 7.9% to EUR6.905 per share.
On the Small-Cap, CDP Equity of the CDP group announced on Monday that it had approved participation in the EUR100 million capital increase of Trevi Finanziaria Industriale. The company, which closed 2025 with a profit of EUR8.1 million, up from EUR1.5 million the previous year, ended the session with a 34% crash to EUR0.293 per share.
Bastogi, meanwhile, gained 5.3% to EUR1.095 per share, followed by a 5.0% bullish performance to EUR4.20 for Centrale del Latte d'Italia.
Among SMEs, Datrix - flat at EUR1.64 - announced on Monday that 2025 closed with a consolidated net loss of EUR2.1 million, an improvement over the EUR2.5 million loss in 2024.
Ambromobiliare, which saw no trades, announced on Monday that it had approved its 2025 results, reporting a loss of EUR455,000 compared to a profit of EUR16,000 in 2024.
Energy, with daily gains of 2.5%, announced that its management board approved the 2025 accounts, closing with a net profit of EUR2.9 million, up 86% from EUR1.6 million in 2024.
The board of Notorious Pictures approved the 2025 accounts, which closed with a consolidated net loss of EUR3.3 million, compared to a profit of EUR3.3 million recorded in 2024. The stock was down 1.6%.
Redelfi closed 2025 with a net result rising to EUR7.5 million, compared to EUR3.3 million recorded as of December 31, 2024. The stock closed up 2.8%.
MIT SIM, with gains of 15%, announced it closed 2025 with a loss of EUR458,609 from a profit of EUR352,235 as of December 31, 2024. Active commissions in 2025 stood at EUR4.2 million from EUR4.8 million the previous year, a 12% decrease.
In New York, the Dow Jones gained 0.7%, the Nasdaq was fractionally in the green, while the S&P 500 marked a 0.3% gain.
On the currency front, the euro changed hands at USD1.1450 from USD1.1519 on Friday evening, while the pound traded at USD1.3188 from USD1.3283 on Friday evening.
Among commodities, Brent traded at USD112.60 per barrel from USD111.44 per barrel on Friday evening, while gold was worth USD4,531.55 per ounce from USD4,514.78 per ounce on Friday evening.
On Tuesday's economic calendar, UK GDP data arrives at 0800 CEST. At 0845 CEST, the consumer price index data will be published, while German unemployment data will be released at 0955 CEST.
At 1100 CEST, attention turns to Italian consumer price indices, and at 1200 CEST, the focus shifts to Italian industrial sales.
US housing data will be released from 1500 CEST, while a speech by the FOMC's Bowman is expected at 2310 CEST.
In Piazza Affari, results from 28 companies are expected, including Buzzi and Ferretti.
By Michele Cirulli, Alliance News reporter
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