Le European stock exchanges they started the week in rise, supported by the stocks of the defense sector why the US military strikes in Venezuela have raised new geopolitical concerns. For the same reason, the safe haven purchases on precious metals. Il bitcoin reached 93.000 dollars (over 79.500 euros).
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose as much as 0,6% to 599,65, an all-time high. Sectors technological and raw material rose by 2,3% and 2,1% respectively. Shares of Asml, The world's largest supplier of computer chip manufacturing equipment, rose 3,2%. Analysts at brokerage firm Bernstein upgraded the stock from "market perform" to "outperform" and raised their price target on the stock from €800 to €1.300.
The defense index rose 3,3%, reaching its highest level in nearly three months and recovering from recent weakness caused by speculation about a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The sector is also being driven by fears of a to expand of the American raids. President Donald Trump has in fact threatened the Colombia, saying that "it is governed by a sick man who likes to produce cocaine, but not for much longer" because a "US mission similar" to the Venezuelan one is possible in the country. Among the countries threatened by Trump are also Mexico, Cuba and Iran. On the contrary, the'energy index European stocks slipped 0,2% due to falling oil prices.
The Dax index of the Stock Exchange Frankfurt reached a new record, with a 1% increase, dragged by the defense manufacturer Rheinmetall with a gain of 7%. The Cac 40 of Paris is up 0,6%, the London Ftse 100 is up 0,12%, BAE Systems and Thales rise by 4,2% and 4,4% respectively. The Ftse Mib of Milan is up 0,6%. The Madrid stock exchange is down 0,6%.
The prices of Petroleum have fluctuated, with Brent crude futures down 0,8% at $60,26 a barrel. U.S. military action is boosting the safe haven application. The prices of the have increased, with spot prices up 2,33% at $4.430 an ounce, still below the all-time high of $4.549,71 at the end of December. Copper remains above the record level of $1.300 with an increase of 1%. Mining companies such as Glencore, Rio Tinto and Anglo American they got a boost from higher copper prices.
On the macro front, in Spain Unemployment fell in December, with the lowest youth unemployment rate ever recorded. The ISM manufacturing index for December is expected this afternoon in the United States.
Key U.S. data coming up. Wall Street futures are rising.
Investors they are already looking further ahead, when others will arrive andkey winds of the USA, including the impending decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on Trump's tariffs and his choice of a new Chairman of the Federal Reserve, As US quarterly data season is around the corner and a few things are marked on the agenda economic data important.
The first key data for the US will be those on'occupation, expected on January 9. Concerns about the weakness of the labor market have pushed the Fed to lower interest rates at each of the last three meetings of 2025, but attention remains also on theinflation which remains above the Fed's annual target of 2%. The extent of further cuts in 2026 is unclear. The monthly U.S. Consumer Price Index is due for release on January 13.
The same January 13th will mark thestart of the US quarterly season with the publication of the data of JPMorgan, along with other major banking reports that week. With stocks trading at historically high valuations, investors are counting on solid earnings growth. Overall earnings for S&P 500 companies are expected to rise 13% in 2025, with a further 15,5% increase in 2026, according to LSEG IBES data. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures they earn 0,3% and 0,7% respectively.
Piazza Affari rose 0,7%, with Leonardo and Fincantieri gaining ground. Saipem and tech stocks also performed well.
At mid-session, the Fte Mib gained 0,7% to 45.671 points, after having oscillated between a minimum of 45.547 points and a maximum of 45.767 points. At the same time, the Ftse Italia All Share recovers 0,6%. The Ftse Italia Mid Cap (+0,09%) and the Ftse Italia Star (+0,52%) also show a positive trend. BTP-Bund spread consolidates just above 65 points, with the yield on the 10-year BTP returning to 3,55%.
They are above all the defense titles leading the rise in Piazza Affari this morning, or the stocks that could benefit from a positive evolution of developments in Venezuela, such as Saipem.
Thus, at mid-session, Leonardo is leading the stock market with a +6,28%. Purchases also on Fincantieri (+4,47%) and on energy stocks, from Tenaris (+ 4,46%). Saipem Instead, it stands out with a 3,92% gain, reaching a three-month high. The Trump administration has told American oil companies that if they want to recover assets seized by the regime in Venezuela, they must prepare to return to the country and invest significantly to revive the local oil industry. Currently, only Chevron is in Venezuela. Saipem could benefit from the fact that, starting in January 2026, Subsea7 has a long-standing strategic relationship with Chevron, characterized by multi-million-dollar contracts for major offshore energy developments globally. Ferrari. Exor and Piero Ferrari, the largest and second-largest shareholders of the Maranello-based company, have agreed to renew the shareholders' agreement for control of the company. The agreement, which expired yesterday, has been extended for three years, until January 4, 2029, with automatic renewal for an additional three years unless terminated by either party.
In the technology sector, there is light stmicroelectronics (+0,61%) in the wake of the rally in tech stocks in Asia, while banks they move at two speeds with Sondrio People's Bank is at +1,97%, Bper Bank at +2,25% and Banca Monte Paschi Siena +0,09%, while Bpm bank travels in decline (-1,8%). Down also Terna +0,06% and Italgas -0,25%.
Le worst performancesand, instead, they register on Ferragamo, which loses 3,06%. Under pressure NewPrinces, with a decline of 2,22%. It suffers Ariston Holding, which shows a loss of 2,10%. Also decreasing Piaggio, with a -1,79%.
Stellantis (-0,8%) recorded a 5,54% drop in registrations in December and just under 8% for the whole of 2025, according to Reuters calculations based on data released by the Ministry of Transport. Overall, car registrations in Italy grew by 2,22% in December and fell by 2,12% for the whole of 2025.
Eni (+1,7%) is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, but there is currently no impact on its operations in the country, a spokesperson said Saturday. The Italian company produces only gas in Venezuela, which is entirely destined for domestic consumption. As of June 30, Eni's receivables from the Venezuelan state company PDVSA amounted to $2,3 billion. This morning, Eni said it plans to reorganize its refining and logistics operations and will merge most of its refining facilities in Italy, as well as its fuel storage facilities and pipelines, into a newly created company.
Ps(+0,09%) In the report to the shareholders' meeting called to amend the bylaws to halve the portion of profits to be allocated to the legal reserve and eliminate the provision relating to the statutory reserve, Monte dei Paschi's board of directors wrote that "the conditions have been met for... solid shareholder remuneration" with a payout ratio of up to 100% of profits and a ROTE of 14%. Indeed, "this proposal is formulated to allow... the distribution of a greater portion of operating profits as a dividend to shareholders."
Bpm bank. (-1,8%) Morgan Stanley cut its rating to underweight from equal weight and raised its target price to 14 from 13,3 euros.
