The approaching monetary tightening by the US central bank boosts the dollar, but leaves the markets lukewarm on a cautious day. Piazza Affari closed in the pink jersey at +0,65%, 19.187 points, pushed by the banks and by Fiat (+4,14%). The spread between the Italian and German 185,30-year bonds decreases: 2,58, -2,23%, yield 1,388%, while the Treasury fills up with requests in today's reopening of the BTPs at auction yesterday, placed for the full additional amount of XNUMX billion euros.
The other European markets are in no particular order: Madrid, +0,25%, Paris +0,16%; Frankfurt -0,02% London; -0,14%. Wall Street opens weak and remains flat in the middle of the day, with the DJ however moving into positive territory, after the words of Janet Yellen to the US Senate Banking Committee. "Waiting too long" for a rate hike would be imprudent, argues the Fed chair, because action will have to be gradual. If the labor market continues to progress and inflation moves towards the 2% target, "it may be appropriate to raise the cost of borrowing during the next meetings". The euro/dollar exchange rate fell below 1,06 to 1,057 (-0,19%).
Among US stocks, General Motors is in the light, after the news that Peugeot would be in talks to buy Opel. The prospect of a consolidation of the sector also drives up the shares of Fiat Chrysler listed in the US and, in its wake, Ford. Continuing on the subject of cars, Rolls Royce collapsed in London after record losses of 4,6 billion pounds caused by the collapse of the British currency and a corruption investigation.
Fiat is also invigorating in Piazza Affari, where it stops at +4,14%. On the shields, among the homegrown blue chips, Exor, +3.09%, Agnelli's safe. Among the banks, the popular ones are confirmed as exuberant: Banco Bpm +4,87%; Bfor +3,4%; Ubi +3,56%. Money on Mediobanca, +2,37%, Generali +1,62%, Intesa +1,31%. Rain of purchases on Unipol +3,57% and Unipolsai +2,64%, after yesterday's rally.
Telecom sales -1,3%. Profit taking on Saipem -2,76%. The other oil companies are shy: Eni flat, Tenaris positive +0,25%. Oil is recovering today, with Brent at 56,07 dollars a barrel +0,86%.
Outside the main basket we find Bologna Airport in great shape (+12,28%), while Mondadori is back, +5,94%. Purchases on Banca Generali continue, +5,11%, thanks to solid growth prospects for 2017, after 2016 closed with record inflows of 5,7 billion, the best result ever. Fnm (+9,42%) flies among the small caps in the wake of the possible integration between Trenord and Atm, while sales continue on Carige (-5,06%) after -3,7% in the previous session. The reasons for the decrease are linked to the possibility that the institute, close to presenting a debt reduction plan to the ECB, may be forced to launch a capital increase.
Finally, the national utilities are liked by the Franco-Swiss broker Kepler, who confirms the "buy" recommendation for Hera, A2A, Acea and Iren.
