FTSE MIB Extends Losses as Middle East Tensions Weigh

The FTSE MIB Index fell 447 points or 0.91 percent on Monday to close at 48669 points. Leading the losses are Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (-7.89%), Infrastrutture Wire (-6.05%) and Nexi (-5.49%). Top gainers were Eni (2.04%), Telecom Italia (1.75%) and Mediobanca (1.61%).

The FTSE MIB fell 0.9% to close at 48,669 on Monday, extending losses from the previous session amid broader risk-off sentiment across global markets. Investors remained focused on escalating Middle East tensions, with no clear signs of de-escalation as US President Donald Trump maintained a hardline stance toward Iran. The developments fueled inflation concerns and pushed bond yields higher. Heavyweight financial stocks led losses, including Intesa Sanpaolo (-2.5%), Generali (-2.8%), BPER Banca (-5.4%), and MPS (-7.9%). Deutsche Bank downgraded BPER Banca to “hold” from “buy,” while raising its target price for MPS and maintaining a “buy” rating. Luxury stocks also weakened amid higher risk aversion, with Ferrari and Moncler both down 0.9%. In contrast, Eni gained 2% on higher oil prices and Leonardo rose 1.9% as geopolitical tensions boosted defense-related shares.

The FTSE MIB fell to around 48,800 on Monday, extending losses from the previous session, in line with a broader risk-off sentiment across global markets. Investors remained focused on escalating Middle East tensions, with no clear signs of de-escalation in sight, as US President Donald Trump maintained an increasingly hardline stance toward Iran. The developments fueled fears of stronger inflation, pushing bond yields higher. Heavyweight financial stocks led the declines, including Intesa Sanpaolo (-4.2%), Assicurazioni Generali (-3.9%), BPER Banca (-6.3%), Unipol Gruppo (-6.0%), FinecoBank (-3.8%), and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (-9.6%). Most major stocks also traded in the red, including automakers Ferrari (-2.3%) and Stellantis (-1.9%), as well as luxury names Brunello Cucinelli (-2.0%) and Moncler (-3.5%). On the data front, Italy’s trade surplus stood at €4.7 billion in March, below market expectations of €5.2 billion.