(Alliance News) - On Monday, as anticipated, Europe's major indices opened in negative territory in the first trading session since the US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites, further destabilizing an already uncertain situation in the Middle East.
As EU foreign ministers prepare to meet and discuss the escalating crisis, oil prices remain volatile, particularly after Iran's parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz. However, the final decision lies with the Supreme National Security Council.
Accordingly, the FTSE Mib is down 1.0% at 38,855.91, the Mid-Cap index is off 1.1% at 52,520.72, the Small-Cap falls 0.7% to 30,572.97, while Italy Growth drops 0.5% to 8,094.46.
London's FTSE 100 is down 0.1% at 8,763.34, Paris' CAC 40 slips 0.5% to 7,550.71, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 declines 0.4% to 23,257.01.
In macroeconomic news, Japan's private sector growth accelerated in June, buoyed by a recovery in manufacturing output that pushed overall activity to a four-month high, according to preliminary data released Monday by S&P Global.
The au Jibun Bank Japan flash composite purchasing managers' index rose to 51.4 in June, up from 50.2 in May.
Back in Milan, on the main board of Piazza Affari, STMicroelectronics leads the pack, up 0.3%, while Eni and Brunello Cucinelli both gain 0.2%.
Eni announced the sale of a 20% stake in Plenitude to Ares Management's Alternative Credit funds for approximately EUR 2.0 billion.
The deal values Plenitude at EUR 10.0 billion in equity and gives it an enterprise value above EUR 12 billion.
This transaction, which follows a previous 10% sale to Energy Infrastructure Partners, aligns with Eni's satellite model strategy.
Azimut slips 0.7%. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Andrea Pignataro's ION Group plans to acquire a minority stake in a new Italian digital bank backed by private equity firm FSI SGR and asset manager Azimut Holding.
Last month, Azimut reached an agreement with Milan-based FSI to establish a fintech company specializing in advanced wealth management services. The fund agreed to acquire an 80% stake in TNB, in a deal potentially worth around EUR 1.2 billion (USD 1.4 billion), including cash components and earn-out arrangements. FSI may be supported by a pool of co-investors, Azimut stated at the time.
Unipol Assicurazioni - down 0.7% - announced Friday that its extraordinary shareholders' meeting approved the total non-proportional demerger of Cronos Vita Assicurazioni.
Among the biggest fallers, Telecom Italia leads losses, down 2.3%. Campari drops 1.7%, and Stellantis falls 1.5%.
On the Mid-Cap index, Juventus FC rises 0.3%, boosted by a new ten-year sponsorship deal with Adidas worth EUR 408 million.
Lottomatica Group advances 0.5%. The company announced Wednesday it has launched a EUR 500.0 million share buyback program.
The program will run for up to 18 months, and as of now, the company holds no treasury shares.
Among the losers, Danieli drops 2.5%, and Tamburi falls 1.5%.
In the small-cap segment, Trevi Finanziaria Industriale - up 0.6% - announced Monday that Trevi and Soilmec secured contracts and orders worth over EUR 140 million in April and May, bringing the group's order backlog at the end of May to EUR 715 million.
For the Trevi division, the company secured contracts in the USA, UAE, Italy, and Malta. The Soilmec division, in the first two months of Q2 2025, received new machinery and service orders worth about EUR 36 million.
Since the start of the year, the group has secured contracts and orders totaling EUR 278 million.
BasicNet - up 0.5% - reported Friday that consolidated revenue in Q1 stood at EUR 98.3 million, down 3.3%, with direct sales declining and royalties up by 24%.
Pro forma EBITDA rose 2.2%, while EBIT fell 7.5% due to increased amortization related to retail expansion.
Fiera Milano fell 1.2%. Last week, the company announced it had won a tender from the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 for the design, management, and dismantling of temporary infrastructure at the Rho exhibition center, which will host ice skating and hockey events next year.
The total contract value is EUR 30.7 million, based on the Interim Agreement signed between Fiera Milano and Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.
Among SMEs, ICOP rises 2.2%. The company announced Monday it will participate in the westward extension of Milan's M1 metro line, from Bisceglie to Quartiere Olmi.
The works awarded to ICOP are valued at over EUR 100 million.
Reway Group slips 2.9%. On Friday, the company said it has entered the port infrastructure maintenance sector after winning two contracts from the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority, worth a combined EUR 9 million.
Mare Engineering Group - up 3.8% - announced it surpassed the 10% voting rights threshold in Eles on June 20, while Eles is down 0.4% on Italy Growth.
Specifically, Mare Group now holds a total of 2.1 million shares, representing 11.86% of share capital and 11.12% of voting rights, making it Eles' second-largest shareholder by voting power.
The purchase price cap remains set at EUR 2.25 per share.
In New York on Friday, the Dow rose 0.1%, the Nasdaq slipped 0.5%, and the S&P 500 closed down 0.2%.
In Asia, the Nikkei lost 0.1%, the Hang Seng is up 0.6%, and the Shanghai Composite gained 0.7%.
In currencies, the euro trades at USD 1.1504 versus USD 1.1513 Friday evening, while the pound is at USD 1.3444 from USD 1.3464 in the previous session.
In commodities, Brent crude trades at USD 76.06 a barrel from USD 76.59 at the previous close, while gold is valued at USD 3,372.27 an ounce from USD 3,366.48 an ounce previously.
Monday's economic calendar includes the release of the Eurozone manufacturing index at 1000 CEST and the UK manufacturing PMI at 1030 CEST.
From 1500 CEST, France will hold BTF auctions for 3, 6, and 12-month maturities, while in the US at 1545 CEST, the services PMI will be released. FOMC members are scheduled to speak from 1910 CEST onwards.
No particularly significant news is expected from Piazza Affari.
By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter
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