In one day a lot positive for popular stocks, the Bpm shares shine in Piazza Affari, which at the end of the morning gain more than four percentage points, to 0,589, scoring one of the best rises of the Ftse Mib. Two factors triggered the wave of purchases: the jump in half-yearly earnings and the prospect of a return to the dividend.
Banca Popolare di Milano announced on Friday that it had closed the first half of the year with a net profit of 191,5 million, up 81,3% year on year, mainly thanks to the contribution deriving from the sale of 18,4% of Anima, listed on the Stock Exchange in April, which led to a capital gain of 103 million.
Investors, however, also reward the indications received from the managing director Giuseppe Castagna, who - during the conference call with analysts - revealed that the bank has already set aside a portion of the resources needed to pay the dividend for the current year and to have calculated the impact of any distribution on capital ratios.
If Bpm really is in a position to distribute a dividend next spring, it will be the first in four years.
