(Alliance News) - On Friday, the truce between Lebanon and Israel and the near-term prospect of an end to the conflict in Iran bolstered confidence across European markets. Most indices saw buying activity at the midday mark, with the exception of the FTSE 100, which edged slightly lower.
The MIB rose 0.8% to 48,395.98 points, the Mid-Cap gained 1.3% to 58,472.64, the Small-Cap recorded a 1.3% increase to 35,347.45, and Italy Growth was in fractional red at 8,741.52 points.
Other European bourses were positive: the CAC 40 rose 0.6%, the DAX 40 gained 0.8%, while the FTSE 100 shed 0.1%.
On Piazza Affari, Eni, down 0.4%, announced on Friday that the collaboration between Plenitude and Zurich, initiated in 2019, is continuing with a new multi-year partnership through a new insurance solution. Zurich Meteo Protetto is a new two-year parametric policy aimed at Plenitude's new electricity and gas customers, providing an automatic indemnity - up to EUR145 per year - in the event of significant temperature deviations from historical averages.
Banca Popolare di Sondrio, up 0.6%, announced the closing of the agreement signed with Nexi, which rose 1.2%, for the transfer of the business unit related to merchant acquiring activities and the sale of the minority stake held by Banca Popolare di Sondrio in Nexi Payments.
The considerations for the transactions - amounting to EUR105 million and EUR57.7 million respectively - were settled in cash.
Saipem, down 1.9%, is lightening the weight of "legacy" litigation, particularly that related to the "Clean Fuel Thai Oil" project in Thailand.
Although Thai Oil has filed claims for USD3.8 billion against the consortium - in which Saipem holds a 36% stake - recent signals appear positive: the arbitration with subcontractor Sino-Thai concluded in March 2026, and the remaining proceedings have been unified at the SIAC in Singapore.
The board of Prysmian, up 0.2%, has granted the board of directors a mandate, exercisable until April 16, 2028, to increase share capital by up to 10% through the issuance of a maximum of 29.6 million shares without pre-emptive rights, in order to support acquisitions and strategic growth operations.
Avio gained 2.5% to EUR37.42 per share, Ferrari rose 2.3% to EUR312.05, and FinecoBank climbed 2.1% to EUR22.04. Mediobanca took the lead with a 2.7% gain to EUR20.17 per share.
On the Mid-Cap, OVS, up 5.6%, announced that it closed the fiscal year ending January 31 with an adjusted net profit of EUR89.4 million, up 15% from EUR77.9 million the previous year.
Furthermore, the board of directors resolved to propose to the shareholders' meeting the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.14 per share, a 27% increase compared to the previous EUR0.11 in 2024.
The rift within Pirelli, which saw shares rise 0.3%, is not a debate over figures but a political battle that erupted during the financial reporting phase. The board approved the 2025 accounts by a majority - 9 votes out of 14 - but the Chinese front led by Sinochem voted against or abstained, echoing the clash that occurred over the 2024 accounts.
BFF Bank remained positive, up 7.8% at EUR2.038 per share, while Comer Industries closed the basket in the red, down 1.3% at EUR45.70 per share.
On the Small-Cap, doValue - up 3.3% - announced the completion of the acquisition of 100% of coeo Group GmbH, a German digital debt management operator, marking a key step in the group's diversification and technological transformation journey.
EPH - with shares down 4.8% - announced that RSM Società di Revisione Contabile e Organizzazione Spa has resigned from its statutory audit mandate, which was granted in 2023 for the 2023-2031 period.
The resignation was motivated by the non-payment of fees for professional services rendered, which reportedly compromised the independence requirement necessary for the continuation of the mandate, as the company explained in a note.
OPS eCom - flat at EUR0.098 - announced that the transfer of ownership of the stake held in KCT has been formalized. The transaction saw the company Deva sell its entire 100% stake in the share capital to Massimiliano Morello, who thus assumes the role of sole shareholder of the company.
FNM announced on Thursday that the board of directors approved the purchase of 20 new trains for the Lombardy regional rail service, as part of the modernization process for the rolling stock used by Trenord.
The operation involves a total investment of approximately EUR170 million, while the stock traded down 1.1% at EUR0.532 per share.
Among SMEs, Confinvest Oro, formerly Confinvest Spa, announced that the Business Register of the Milan Monza Brianza Lodi Chamber of Commerce has registered the updated articles of association, reflecting the name change approved by the extraordinary shareholders' meeting on March 26. The stock rose 4.6%.
Ecomembrane - down 0.4% - announced that its subsidiary SBS Solar has entered into a contract with Photovoltaicum, a renewable energy investment vehicle, for the construction of a PV plant valued at EUR4.8 million. The amount was revised upward from the EUR4.5 million initially announced last September.
TMP Group recorded the strongest gains, rising 7.6% to EUR5.14 per share.
In New York, the Dow Jones closed up 0.1% at 48,587.72 points, the Nasdaq gained 0.4% to 24,102.70 points, while the S&P 500 marked a 0.3% gain to 7,041.28.
In Asia, the Nikkei fell 1.8% to 58,475.90 points, the Hang Seng shed 0.9% to 26,160.33, and the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.1% to 4,051.43 points.
On the currency front, the euro changed hands at USD1.1794 from USD1.1776 on Thursday evening, while the pound traded at USD1.3532 from USD1.3531 yesterday evening.
Among commodities, Brent traded at USD96.48 per barrel from USD98.30 per barrel yesterday evening, while gold was valued at USD4,792.16 per ounce from USD4,803.20 per ounce yesterday evening.
Friday's macroeconomic calendar includes a speech from the Fed's Daly at 1730 CEST, followed by Barkin at 1815 CEST and Waller at 2000 CEST.
By Michele Cirulli, Alliance News reporter
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