Italian Stocks Inch Higher
2026-10-29 14:21
By
Larissa Caser
1 min. read
Milan’s FTSE MIB extended gains to close 0.4% higher at 50,002 on Thursday, as investors digested the ECB’s policy decision and MPS's shareholder meeting.
The central bank kept rates unchanged, noting no second-round effects from higher energy prices so far while signaling that another hike in December was possible.
Financial stocks were mostly lower as attention turned to MPS's (0.2%) shareholders that rejected CEO Lovaglio's takeover bid of Banca Generali and Banco BPM (-0.4%), leaving Intesa (-0.5%) that much closer to take control of the Siena bank.
Meanwhile, Italy’s 2027 budget, which includes higher taxes on the financial and energy sectors, was approved.
Energy stocks ENI and Saipem traded near the flatline.
Prysmian surged 6.6%, supported by its results and upward revisions to estimates.
Defense shares Leonardo (3.9%), Fincantieri (1.9%) and Avio (1.8%) also traded higher.
STMicroelectronics rose 1.9% after reporting better-than-expected Q3 operating profit.