Piazza Affari loses momentum but still manages to close in positive territory supported by the flames on the banks protagonists of the risk, Banco Popolare and Bpm, and on Telecom Italia. The Ftse Mib closes the rise of 0,46%. Conversely, the main European stock exchanges reversed direction and slipped slightly in the red: London -0,08% and Frankfurt -0,02% while Paris closed heavier at -0,78%. The markets of the Old Continent have moved in the wake of Wall Street where the price lists are volatile and, after having gone into the red for most of the afternoon, are moving around parity. Eyes on Starwood after Marriott's offer. In the US, the data on sales of existing homes it turned out worse than expected: it recorded a 7,1% drop in February versus analyst expectations for a 2,6% decline. On an annual basis, however, sales recorded an increase of 2,2%.
This morning, however, Asian stocks closed up, with Shanghai up 2,2% and Shenzhen up 2,68%. The Shanghai Stock Exchange finished the session for the first time in two months above the three thousand point threshold after the Chinese authorities have relaxed the rules to allow investors to participate in "margin trading".
WTI oil rose by 1,42% to 40 dollars a barrel. The euro/dollar exchange rate dropped 0,28% to 1,1238. The spread between the Btp and the Bund closed the session down to 103 basis points, from 106 points on Friday's reference with the yield of the Btp, to 1,26% from 1,28%.
Banco Popolare +5,92% and Bpm +3,37% shine in Piazza Affari waiting for tomorrow's board of directors who could be decisive on the merger of the two institutes after the government has sided in favor of the wedding. Bmps also stands out among the banks +3,95%. In the spotlight Telecom Italia +3,07%: CEO Marco Patuano has resigned and the entirety of the appointments has already taken place. Patuano should be replaced by Flavio Cattaneo, former CEO of Terna, now in Italo. Exor +3,77%, among the best in the Ftse Mib, benefits from the closing of the PartnerRe acquisition and the upward revision of the Fiat Chrysler rating by Standard & Poor's.
In the bottom of the basket of blue chips instead we find Saipem -3,4%, Stm -2,7%, Generali -1,17%, Unipol -0,81% and Mediaset -0,8%. The Alfa stock slowed down after a strong start following rumors from La Repubblica regarding an agreement in principle between the Berlusconi family and the top management of Vivendi for a share swap between the French giant and Mediaset. Speaking on a radio broadcast this morning, Silvio Berlusconi said that Vivendi is only interested in certain assets.
Outside the Ftse Mib, Mondadori is up +4,95%, which benefits from the exclusive negotiating period with Banzai until 30 April 2016. The Segrate publishing group is interested in the company's Media activities which include the Pianeta Donna and Giallo Zafferano portals. Ei Towers +0,4% and Rai Way -0,08% interested in a possible pole of the towers. Tod's rebounds by 0,83%. From today the title is no longer part of the Ftse Mib.
