Italian Stocks Advance Despite ECB Rate Hike

The FTSE MIB Index went up by 476 points or 0.95 percent on Thursday to close at 50505 points. The rise was led by STMicroelectronics (5.98%), Saipem (5.47%) and Prysmian (5.19%). On the downside, the weakerst performers were Diasorin (-2.25%), Infrastrutture Wire (-1.73%) and Davide Campari-Milano (-1.09%).

The FTSE MIB rose 0.9% to close at 50,505 on Thursday as investors largely shrugged off developments in the Middle East and the ECB’s latest policy decision. US President Trump threatened additional strikes on Iran and warned that Washington could target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, the ECB raised interest rates by 25bps while revising inflation forecasts higher and lowering growth projections. However, both moves had been widely anticipated by markets. Technology stocks led gains, supported by a global rebound in semiconductor shares following recent weakness in the sector, with STMicroelectronics jumping 5.7%. Energy stocks also advanced, with Eni gaining 1.1% amid continued uncertainty over the normalization of global oil supplies. Elsewhere, Prysmian surged 4.9%, while defense-related stocks outperformed, with Leonardo rising 2.7%.

The FTSE MIB rose to around 50,400 on Thursday, recouping losses from the previous session as attention shifted to the European Central Bank's policy announcement due later in the day. Markets are expecting a 25-basis-point rate increase, which would mark the first hike since 2023. Investors also remained focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East after the US military confirmed strikes in Iran, Israel reported missile launches from Lebanon, and Kuwait closed its airspace over concerns related to Iranian offensives. Across the bourse, technology-related stocks helped underpin gains, tracking an attempted recovery in regional semiconductor shares. STMicroelectronics gained more than 3%, while Prysmian advanced over 2%. Other notable gainers included banks UniCredit (+1.1%) and Intesa Sanpaolo (+1%), defense group Leonardo (+1.6%), and luxury brands Moncler (+1.8%) and Brunello Cucinelli (+2%).