The FTSE MIB Index Closes 1.60% Higher

The FTSE MIB rose 1.6% to close at 52,428 on Thursday, supported by lower-than-expected US labor data and defense-linked gains. Defense stocks extended the previous session's gains, led by Fincantieri (6.8%), Leonardo (6.5%) and Avio (1.5%). Weaker-than-expected US labor data fueled gains in financial stocks by reducing expectations of further Fed rate hikes this year, while the BTP-Bund spread dropped to 78bps during the session and added support. UniCredit led gains at 4.1%, followed by Banca Mediolanum (2.2%), Finecobank (2.1%), Intesa Sanpaolo (2.1%) and Mediobanca (1.2%). Insurers Unipol (3.2%) and Generali (0.7%) also extended advances. Energy stocks also advanced, led by A2A (3.6%), while Eni gained 1.6% after announcing a fusion energy joint venture. Meanwhile, AI-related stocks remained volatile, with STMicroelectronics (-0.9%) and Prysmian (-0.7%) ending lower.

The FTSE MIB Index went up by 824 points or 1.60 percent on Thursday to close at 52428 points. The rise was led by Leonardo SpA (6.88%), Fincantieri (6.78%) and UniCredit (3.79%).

The FTSE MIB rose to around 51,800 on Thursday, rebounding from a slight decline in the previous session, as gains in financial stocks supported the index. UniCredit advanced 1% after JPMorgan reiterated its Buy rating. Its peers also traded higher, with Intesa Sanpaolo up 0.6%, Banca Mediolanum 0.6%, Mediobanca 0.5%, BPER Banca 0.4%, and Banco BPM 0.4%. Defence stocks also extended their gains, with Leonardo, Fincantieri, and Avio rising 3.1%, 1.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. On the downside, technology-related stocks continued to decline amid renewed concerns over elevated AI-related valuations, with STMicroelectronics falling 0.7% and Prysmian losing 2.8%. On the data front, Italy’s jobless rate fell to 5% in May, below expectations and April’s 5.1%, and marking the lowest reading since records began in 1983.