Italy Shares Drop as Global Tensions Weigh
2026-02-19 17:23
By
Isabela Couto
1 min. read
Italy’s FTSE MIB fell 1.2% to close at 45,794 on Thursday, trimming the 2.1% increase from the earlier two sessions as escalating geopolitical tension weighed on the outlook of growth and energy inflation.
The US reinforced its military presence in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran despite recent talks.
Enel fell 3.6% after the Italian government approved a two-percentage-point hike in its IRAP corporate tax on energy firms.
Banks also declined on rising credit costs, with UniCredit down 2.4% and Intesa Sanpaolo losing 1.5%.
Meanwhile, Fincantieri fell 11.8% after it announced a new share placement with institutional investors representing up to 10% of its share capital.
On the upside, Tenaris surged 9.5% after reporting a 5% rise in fourth-quarter net sales, beating expectations.
Eni gained 1.4% as oil prices climbed, while Leonardo added 1.9% amid renewed tensions.