Le European stock exchanges they try to consolidate the recovery after the previous session, supported by the opening signals arrived from the Middle Eastern front. Leading the purchases are the negotiations between Oman and Iran on the management of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial hub for global energy flows, even if the market remains cautious while waiting to see whether the dialogue can transform into a stable agreement.
However, the market continues to move on a delicate balance. After the new sell-off which affected i technology stocks in Asia, operators are keeping an eye on the chip and artificial intelligence sector, still grappling with doubts about the valuations reached and the huge investments needed to support the growth of AI. In Tokyo, the Nikkei closed down, penalized by the weakness of semiconductors and uncertainties about the geopolitical situation.
European stock markets are moving in no particular order: Paris 0,7% salt, Madrid by 0,92% and London by 0,17%, while Frankfurt e Amsterdam both give up 0,14%, the latter penalized by the chips. Piazza Affari and the Ftse Mib accelerate by 0,80% to 53.876 points, confirming the record levels reached in recent sessions thanks above all to the push from the banks and the quarterly results.
On the trade front, Donald Trump's possible new crackdown on imported polysilicon also remains under observation, with duties around 15% under consideration to strengthen American production of materials for chips and solar panels.
Banco BPM leads the Italian Stock Exchange, while Avio and Leonardo do well.
In Milan the protagonist of the session is still Bpm desk, which runs at 4,81% after the quarterly above expectations and the upward revision of the objectives for 2026. The institute led by Joseph Chestnut It raised its net profit target to over €1,95 billion and raised its cumulative shareholder remuneration target for the 2024-2027 period to approximately €7 billion, including cash dividends and buybacks. The banking game also remains heated: after the merger with MPS fell through, Castagna confirmed his openness to a possible merger with Crédit Agricole Italia, if a solution with a strong industrial logic and in the interests of shareholders emerges. Good also Bper, which after a more cautious start is recovering ground thanks to the record half-year results, with a profit of 1,33 billion euros and a revision of its targets. It remains in the spotlight in Frankfurt. Commerzbank, at the centre of the sights of UniCredit, with the Italian bank's shares rising by 1,18% on the Milan Stock Exchange. The German bank closed the first semester 2026 with a record net profit of 1,8 billion euros, up 40%, but without recording any particular surges on the stock market.
The Defense sector is also running on the Milan stock exchange, with Avio up 2,47% e Leonardo by 2,32%, while Inwit also stands out, gaining 1,83%. The theme of security and strategic infrastructure is performing well, in an international context still marked by geopolitical tensions.
On the other hand, technology stocks remain weak. St Microelectronics The stock fell 1,62%, weighed down by doubts about the semiconductor cycle and the prospects for artificial intelligence. It also fell. Tenaris, down 0,73%, after profits fell in the second quarter.
Among the other stocks that are falling are moving Lottomatica (-0,91%) And Buzzi (-0,52%), as the market continues to look to the earnings season and company guidance for the second half of the year.
Outside the Ftse Mib remains in the spotlight Trevi, at the center of the challenge between Webuild and Icop. The group acknowledged Webuild's takeover bid, specifying that the transaction was "in no way solicited" or "agreed upon." On the financial front, however, the improvement in results continues.
Attention also to Techno probe, which closed the half-year with a consolidated net profit of 143,1 million euros, a strong growth compared to the 34,4 million of the same period of 2025, pushing the company to further revise its targets for 2026 upwards. Good also Pirelli, which has signed an agreement with Abet High Tech Solutions to develop technologies for remotely operated electric land vehicles for rescue activities.
The other markets
The energy dossier remains the main focus for investors. According to the Wall Street JournalAs part of the negotiations, Tehran could gain a supervisory role over ships entering the Persian Gulf, but without the possibility of imposing tolls on maritime traffic. This potential compromise would reduce tensions but not eliminate uncertainties, especially while awaiting the United States' next moves.
Il Petroleum reacts without strong shocks: Brent remains below the threshold of 80 dollars per barrel, while the gas in Amsterdam it starts to rise again. Meanwhile, the race of the , which remains at the highest levels seen in recent months, supported by its role as a safe haven in a phase of high uncertainty.
On the currency market theeuro remains stable above the 1,15 dollar mark, while the bitcoin moves just above 64 thousand dollars.
