World markets under pressure due to the worsening situation in Ukraine. According to the United States, Russia is not keeping its word on the Geneva agreement and is destabilizing the crisis. US President Barack Obama has said the United States is ready to impose targeted sanctions in response to Russia's latest actions.
Piazza Affari closes by 1,7%, worse than Europe weighed down by banks and industrialists. In this climate, the index does not benefit from Fitch's positive opinion: the agency confirmed Italy's BBB+ rating and improved the rating from negative to stable. Promotion also for Spain which, in closed markets, receives an improvement in its rating to BBB+ from 'BBB. The S&P agency maintained France's AA rating and stable outlook. The ax of the rating agencies instead falls on Russia following the growing tensions with Kiev: S&P has cut Russia's credit rating to BBB-, one step above the junk level. But Russia's central bank unexpectedly raised its key rate to 7,5% from 7%, amid fears of rising inflation.
The Btp bund spread rises to 162 basis points. Frankfurt -1,54%, London -0,26%, Madrid -1,49% and Paris -0,8%. On the French list, the Alstom share was suspended at the request of the Financial Markets Authority. Yesterday, the stock rebounded more than 10%, boosted by rumors of a General Electrics takeover. The Economy Minister announced that the French government is working on other solutions and possibilities with respect to the offer on Alstom's energy sector activities by the American group General Electric. According to various union sources, cited by the French media, Alstom's managing director Patrick Kron has denied the existence of a takeover offer from General Electric, speaking instead of an "industrial operation" in sight.
Down too Wall Street despite the good US data on consumer confidence which was better than expected. The University of Michigan index rose to 84,1 in April from 80 the previous month. On the other hand, the PMI index on Markit services fell, slowing down to 54,2 points in April from 55,3 in March. The Dow Jones fell 0,73%, the S&P500 0,7% and the Nasdaq 1,44%. The crisis in Ukraine is making itself felt on Wall Street, but also several quarterly reports that have disappointed expectations, including Starbucks, Whirpool, Ford. Microsoft, on the other hand, rises thanks to data beyond expectations. The euro-dollar exchange rate is around 1,3841 while WTI oil drops 1,18% to 100,7 dollars a barrel. We are looking forward to the next Fed meeting next week which should decide another 10 billion reduction in securities purchases.
Cnh Industrial +2,1%, Prysmian +0,7%, Mediaset +0,3% rises in Piazza Affari. At the bottom of the Ftse Mib, which widens the losses towards the end, Banco Popolare -3,9% after the successful outcome of the 1,5 billion capital increase, Yoox -3,8%, Autogrill -3,5%, Ubi Banca -3,4%, Enel -2,9%
