FTSE MIB Edges Lower

The FTSE MIB fell slightly to around 43,200 in early trading on Monday, extending losses from the previous session and moving in line with its European peers. Investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East, with fresh signs of escalation as Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen entered the conflict, while President Trump suggested the possibility of seizing Iran’s oil resources. The ongoing war has persistently weighed on financial markets, putting the benchmark index on track for a more than 6% monthly decline, the largest since June 2022. Across the bourse, top laggards included Leonardo (-1.7%), Mediobanca (-1.3%), Bper Banca (-1%), and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (-1.7%). On the economic front, Italy is set to release its producer prices data for February later today.

The FTSE MIB Index dropped -323 points or 0.74 percent on Friday to close at 43379 points. Losses were led by Leonardo SpA (-4.13%), Saipem (-2.75%) and STMicroelectronics (-2.75%). Offsetting the fall, top gainers were Infrastrutture Wire (3.83%), Amplifon (1.56%) and Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale (1.16%).

The FTSE MIB fell 0.7% to close at 43,379 on Friday as US President Trump's announcement of a deadline extension for Iran failed to lift uncertainty. Trump said he would delay planned strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for another 10 days, extending the pause until April 6th to allow negotiators more time to reach an agreement. Oil prices continued to rise amid war-driven supply concerns, driving inflation fears and lifting bond yields, which pressured financial stocks. UniCredit lost 1.5%, Intesa Sanpaolo fell 0.5%, and BPM dropped nearly 2%. The luxury sector also posted losses, with Ferrari down 0.5%, Moncler falling 2.6%, and Brunello Cucinelli declining 1.9%. Other laggards included Leonardo, down 3.3% as the US appears to seek resolution in Iran, and STMicroelectronics, down 2.7%, as tech stocks experienced a global downturn.