La English variant of the coronavirus it throws the world into a panic and sends the markets, fresh from a phase of expansion, into the depths. European lists close in deep red on the very day when EMA authorizes Pfizer-Biontech's Covid vaccine. The green light from the European Commission will also arrive shortly by return of post, to allow the prophylaxis campaign to start, as announced, on December 27th.
In the last hour, the squares of the Old Continent have recovered from the lows of the session, but the balance of the day remains heavy. Milano it loses 2,57% and drops to 21.410 points. Italy, like other countries, has blocked flights from the UK, but cases of the Covid variant have already been identified throughout the boot. Frankfurt falls by 2,84%; Paris -2,43%; Madrid -3,03%. London drops 1,79%, while the GBP staggers under the blows of the news. At the moment the exchange rate is 1,33, down 1,25% against the greenback. In this phase of risk aversion, the US currency regains its role as a safe haven asset. Me too'euro is on the downside, with the cross around 1,222.
The sectors most affected by sales are Petroleum, transport and tourism. The new restrictions on mobility, the blocking of flights from many countries with Great Britain and the fears of a drop in demand for black gold influence choices. Crude oil sinks: Brent loses 4,19%, 50,07 dollars a barrel; Wti -4,35%. $47,10.
The burden is also aggravated by Brexit, with the countdown that has started for the definitive divorce, while the trade agreement still seems to be on the high seas.
The opening bell is also out of tune a Wall Street, although Congress has finally found agreement on the economic aid package for families and businesses, setting the figure at 900 billion dollars. To increase confidence in the future and in science today, President-elect Joe Biden (78 years old) should publicly receive the anti-Covid vaccine, but even Tesla debuts down on the S&P500 and is currently down 5,2%. Tesla is the company with the sixth market cap on the index with over 650 billion of capitalization, behind only Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Facebook.
In Piazza Affari, the sales hit the banks hard: Unicredit -3,91%; Bper -4,03%; Understanding -3,49%.
The red wave then engulfs oil stocks, starting with Eni -4,37%. The six-legged dog has signed a concession contract for the acquisition of a 70% stake in exploration block 3, located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Eni will lead a consortium that includes a subsidiary of the Thai company PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), with the remaining 30% of the capital. Saipem -3,93%.
Selling hits heavy industry stocks due to both Brexit-related fears and the impacts of the new anti-Covid restrictions on economies. Among the worst Leonardo -3,18%, heavily penalized by the beginning of the pandemic.
Also among the ten biggest declines of the day Telecom -3,74% ed Enel -3,73%.
fca closed down, -2,06%, on the day of the European go-ahead 38 billion merger with PSA, for the birth of Stellantis.
Purchases reward only three titles Cnh +1,1%; Diasorin +0,59%; Finecobank + 0,12%.
Out of the main basket Mediaset yields 2,01%. In an interview with Corriere della Sera CEO Pier Silvio Berlusconi argues that the group could close the year with an "important, perhaps surprising profit" despite the coronavirus crisis and that the snake will go ahead with the commercial TV pole project in Europe, with or without a agreement with its second shareholder Vivendi. Advertising revenues are expected to grow by 4% in the second half of the year. “The advertising trend anticipated by Mediaset is above expectations with the market expecting revenues to drop by 14,5% year on year”, writes Fidentiis in the daily.
Risk aversion penalizes bonds moderately. The spread between Italian and German ten-year bonds it rises to 112 basis points (+1,31%) and the BTP rate rises to +0,54%.
