Italy - Factors to watch on Feb. 27
27/02/2025 05:00
The following factors could affect Italian markets on Thursday. Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*). For a complete list of diary events in Italy please click on IT/DIA. POLITICS Italy on Wednesday called on the European Union to help allow countries to boost their defence spending without infringing the bloc's budget rules, as member states grapple with U.S. pressure to pay more for their own security. (*) A small town on Italy's Lake Garda that was home to Italy's last fascist government voted late on Wednesday to cancel an honorary citizenship for Benito Mussolini. ECONOMY ISTAT releases February consumer and business confidence data (0900 GMT) and December industry sales data (1000 GMT). DEBT Treasury sells up to 6.75 billion euros in BTP bonds and up to 2.75 billion euros in CCTeu bonds. Subscriptions close at 1000 GMT. COMPANIES UNICREDIT CRDI.MI The European Central Bank is poised to give Italy's second-largest bank the green light to build up its stake in German rival Commerzbank CBKG.DE, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, a move that could pave the way for Europe's biggest cross-border banking deal since the global financial crisis. ENI ENI.MI (*) The Italian energy group said on Thursday its fourth-quarter adjusted net profit fell 46% with respect to the previous year, hit by lower energy prices and continued weakness at its refining and chemicals divisions. (*) Eni and Malaysia's state energy firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture to oversee some upstream assets in Indonesia and Malaysia, the Italian energy group said on Thursday. The company's board of directors decided to distribute to shareholders the third of the four tranches of the 2024 dividend from available reserves of 0.25 euros per share. The group releases its 2025-2028 strategic plan, which will be followed by 'Capital Markets Update' conference call at 1300 GMT. FERRARI RACE.MI (*) Netherlands-based Exor EXOR.AS said on Thursday it had sold 7 million shares of Ferrari, or around 4% of the company, to institutional investors for total proceeds of 3 billion euros. In a separate statement Ferrari said it bought 666,666 shares for a total consideration of 300 million euros. PRYSMIAN PRY.MI (*) The world's largest cable maker said on Thursday its adjusted core profit would rise as much as 22% this year, with growth boosted by the full benefit of the $4.2 billion acquisition of Encore Wire the group made in 2024. Conference call at 0900 GMT. BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI BMPS.MI MF reported on Thursday that several institutional investors, including BlackRock, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Vanguard and JPMorgan, had increased their stakes in the Tuscan bank. The daily also mentioned rumours that Italian tycoon Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone could increase his stake to 10%. TELECOM ITALIA TLIT.MI The Italian phone group is considering pushing back to as late as June its annual shareholder meeting, currently scheduled for April 10, two sources close to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. LEONARDO LDOF.MI Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is in talks to invest in Leonardo's aerostructures unit, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. (*) BPER EMII.MI, BANCA POPOLARE DI SONDRIO BPSI.MI BPER said on Wednesday that it had filed with Italian regulator CONSOB the offer document for its bid for smaller rival Banca Popolare di Sondrio. PIRELLI PIRC.MI The Italian tyremaker is preparing to mitigate the impact of possible U.S. tariffs, it said on Wednesday, while forecasting 2025 adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margin of around 16%, slightly higher than last year. (*) ENEL ENEI.MI The group said on Wednesday it had completed the acquisition of 100% of Corporation Acciona Hidraulica, which owns a portfolio of hydroelectric plants with a total installed capacity of 626 MW, for a consideration of approximately 1 billion euros. (*) MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE MFEB.MI The commercial TV group of Italy's Berlusconi family said its outlook for 2025 remained "good" after reporting a 15% rise in 2024 full-year profit on the back of higher advertising sales. (*) JUVENTUS JUVE.MI Empoli knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia with a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win after a 1-1 draw in regular time, leaving coach Thiago Motta ashamed by the Bianconeri's shock exit. Releases H1 results. MITTEL MTTI.MI Lake Bidco SpA ends full voluntary takeover offer on Mittel ordinary shares. DIARY Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti and Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta attend G20/G7 ministerial meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. Bolzano, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso attends inauguration ceremony of "Bolzano's House of Made in Italy" (1600 GMT). ((Milan newsroom, e-mail: reutersitaly@thomsonreuters.com)) For Italian market data and news, click on codes in brackets: 20 biggest gainers (in percentage).............PG.MI 20 biggest losers (in percentage)..............PL.MI FTSE IT allshare index .FTITLMS FTSE Mib index........ .FTMIB FTSE Allstars index... .FTSTAR FTSE Mid Cap index.... .FTITMC Block trades.......... .BLK.MI Stories on Italy...... IT-LEN For pan-European market data and news, click on codes in brackets: European Equities speed guide...................EUR/EQUITY FTSEurofirst 300 index...............................FTEU3 DJ STOXX index.......................................STOXX Top 10 STOXX sectors............................PGL.STOXXS Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors.......................PGL.STOXXES Top 10 Eurofirst 300 sectors....................PGL.FTEU3S Top 25 European pct gainers........................PG.PEUR Top 25 European pct losers.........................PL.PEUR Main stock markets: Dow Jones................DJI Wall Street report ......N Nikkei 225..............N225 Tokyo report.............T FTSE 100................FTSE London report............L Xetra DAX..............GDAXI Frankfurt market stories.F CAC-40..................FCHI Paris market stories....PA World Indices.....................................0#.INDEX Reuters survey of world bourse outlook.........EQUITYPOLL1 Western European IPO diary..........................WEUIPO European Asset Allocation........................EUR/ASSET Reuters News at a Glance: Equities...............TOP/EQE Main currency report:...............................FRX/