European Markets End the Year on a High Note, Mib Leads the Pack

(Alliance News) – On Tuesday, in the final trading session of the year, European stock exchanges closed higher, with the Mib particularly buoyant, standing out as the top performer.

On the geopolitical front, ongoing uncertainty surrounding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine has strengthened gold, whose price, after Monday's sell-off, returned to an upward trajectory. According to analysts, this signals a potential revival in the new year, with rising demand for the safe-haven asset.

In this context, the Mib ended trading up 1.1% at 44,944.54 points, the Mid-Cap gained 0.3% to 58,841.21, the Small-Cap rose 0.6% to 36,871.04, and Italy Growth closed up 0.9% at 8,625.00 points.

London's FTSE 100 closed up 0.8%, Paris's CAC 40 advanced 0.7%, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 rose 0.6%.

In Milan, banks surged ahead. Mediobanca gained 2.1%, Monte dei Paschi di Siena 2.6%, Banca Popolare di Sondrio 1.9%, and UniCredit 2.3%.

The European Central Bank's supervisory body is ready to authorize the new statute of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which was amended in a swift board meeting on December 24 to eliminate the "principle of residuality" contested by Frankfurt.

Fincantieri – up 0.9% – announced that, through its subsidiary WASS Submarine Systems, a leader in the design and development of advanced underwater defense systems, it has secured a major EUR200 million order from the Indian Navy to supply Black Shark Advanced heavy torpedoes for the six Scorpène-class submarines serving in the Indian fleet.

Inwit – up 0.3% – is open to dialogue on Master Service Agreements, but only regarding conditions for new investments.

This was clarified by general manager Diego Galli: there will be no reopening of the agreements that established the Italian tower model, but there is a willingness for greater flexibility to facilitate new construction sites.

Intesa Sanpaolo, up 1.4%, through its IMI Corporate & Investment Banking division led by Mauro Micillo, has strengthened its role as a key financial partner in the Middle East.

Since 2023, the division has participated, alongside other banks, in transactions exceeding EUR60 billion, including more than EUR30 billion as mandated lead arranger in financing and EUR30 billion as bookrunner in bond issues, as well as in advisory and rate-hedging activities.

The stocks ending the year in negative territory were Moncler, down 0.5%, and Ferrari, down 0.1%.

On the Mid-Cap, Webuild, as part of a consortium, secured a contract worth about EUR660 million for the construction of the first section of Lot 1 of Naples' new Metro Line 10. The project is part of a broader infrastructure plan, with total investments estimated at over EUR3.1 billion, aimed at enhancing mobility in the city's northeastern area. The stock rose 2.1% to EUR3.442 per share.

Edil San Felice – flat at EUR5.00 – received a new order from Avio – up 1.0% – worth about EUR3 million for construction and plant engineering activities at a site located in Colleferro, Rome.

MAIRE announced that its subsidiaries within the Integrated E&C Solutions business unit have been awarded additional work related to previously announced orders and new contracts for a total value of approximately EUR700 million. The stock rose 0.5%.

The closing of the Sesa and TeamSystem deal is scheduled for January 2026: an operation that, according to the company, could impact net profit and net financial position by over EUR8.0 million. Sesa shares gained 0.1%.

At Tinexta, the board of directors has changed and the company is moving toward delisting after Zinc BidCo will launch a takeover bid following its acquisition of a 39% stake in Tinexta's share capital and 33% of voting rights, at a price of EUR15.00 per share, under the purchase agreement signed with Tecno Holding Spa last August 5. The stock closed down 0.1%.

On the Small-Cap, OPS Italia – up 1.3% – announced it has completed the sale, for the symbolic value of EUR1 per company, of all its holdings in EEMS CHINA and EEMS Renewables.

The extraordinary shareholders' meeting of OPS eCom – up 4.4% – approved a capital increase of up to EUR3 million, excluding pre-emptive rights, reserved for creditors and to be subscribed by June 30, 2026, through the offsetting of receivables.

The meeting also empowered the board of directors to further increase capital by up to an additional EUR6 million, again excluding pre-emptive rights, to be executed in one or more tranches within 12 months and reserved for creditors.

Mare Engineering Group and Borgosesia – both down 0.7% – announced the closing of a EUR7.5 million capital increase for EasyGo, a search fund dedicated to acquisition and industrial turnaround operations of Italian SMEs undergoing generational transitions and managerial disruptions.

Aeffe rebounded sharply, up 15% to EUR0.337 per share.

Among SMEs, Mare Group – up 0.5% – has requested that Eles – up 0.6% – add to the agenda of the ordinary shareholders' meeting scheduled for January 7, 2026 (first call) and January 8 (second call).

The request concerns the addition of an item regarding the appointment of independent directors, should the independent director co-opted by the board on September 30 not be confirmed.

Farmacosmo – up 7.3% – has signed an agreement to sell 50% of Baubau to Pet Being.

Baubau has been valued at EUR10 million, and the consideration for the purchase of 55% of the capital amounts to EUR4.4 million, of which EUR4 million goes to Farmacosmo, plus an earn-out of up to EUR1.1 million tied to the achievement of 2026 Ebitda targets, in addition to positive net cash.

ICOP – down 1.1% – is participating in the construction of Lot 1 of Naples' new Metro Line 10 with a EUR16 million share.

Metriks AI – up 2.6% – has finalized the acquisition of the remaining 40% of FCONN's share capital, thus raising its stake to 100%. The acquisition of the remaining 40% of FCONN involves a total consideration of EUR150,000.

Più Medical – up 3.3% – has executed a EUR5 million capital increase, fully subscribed by IPOC 9 Srl, a vehicle backed by the IPO Club 2 fund of Azimut Investments and controlling shareholder GSM.

In New York, the Dow is down 0.1%, the Nasdaq is up 0.1%, and the S&P 500 is up 0.1%.

On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1761 from USD1.1754 in the previous session, while the pound is trading at USD1.3517 from USD1.3489 on Monday evening.

Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD61.44 per barrel from USD61.95 per barrel at yesterday's close, while gold is valued at USD4,366.68 per ounce from USD4,335.25 per ounce yesterday.

On Friday's economic calendar, at 0800 CET, attention will be on UK housing figures, while Spain will publish unemployment data.

At 0945 CET, Italy's manufacturing report will be released, followed by the French and Eurozone reports at 1000 CET.

At 1200 CET, it will be Spain's turn to release car registration data, and at 1800 CET, Italy's. At 2230 CET, the Fed's balance sheet is due.

No significant announcements are expected at Piazza Affari.

By Michele Cirulli, Alliance News Reporter

Comments and questions to [e-mail]

Copyright 2025 Alliance News IS Italian Service Ltd. All rights reserved.