Stock markets in decidedly positive territory with the Btp-bund spread below 300 points in a day that benefits from the easing of tensions on the fiscal cliff negotiation and from the improvement of the rating on Greece by S&P.
Piazza Affari is the most tonic with an increase of 0,97% helped by the decrease in the spread which returns to the pre-resignation levels of Prime Minister Mario Monti, Frankfurt rises by 0,26% after the Ifo in December marked an increase above expectations at 102,4 points from 101,4 in November, Paris by 0,51% and London by 0,65%.
The euro continues to strengthen against the dollar and is now traveling above 1,3280 (+0,39%). Now the market is looking at the data coming from the US on the start of new construction sites in November after the builders' confidence index drawn up by an association of companies in the sector in collaboration with Wells Fargo rose in December to 47 from 45 November, the data is in line with the economists' forecasts but is nonetheless remarkable because with this step forward the index has reached the levels of 6 years ago, before the subprime crisis.
Ubi Banca +3,66%, Unicredit +2,44% and Bpm +1,88% rise in Piazza Affari. Mps +1% in the wake of the green light on the Monti bond. The bank aims to close the deal with the unions on the outsourcing of the bank's back office activities with the exit of over 1.100 employees. Generals unchanged. Today Meneguzzo di Palladio has denied any hidden agreement with Leo.
UBS will pay a 1,5 billion dollar fine for the Libor scandal to the authorities of the United States, Great Britain and Switzerland: a fine more than three times greater than that paid by Barclays in June (450 million) for the same scandal. The FSA has ascertained that between 2005 and 2010 the Swiss bank manipulated rates involving numerous people.
Buzzi Unicem +3,89% and Tenaris +3,05% shine. Leap Erg of 9,62%. Today the group, which approved the 2013-2015 strategic plan, confirmed the 2012 targets and the current dividend policy. Prelios +4% in the wake of expectations of the imminent restructuring. The investigation into Fonsai continues. The Turin financial police are carrying out searches in the Italian offices of Fondiaria-Sai in Turin, Milan, Bari and Naples: according to what has been learned, they are targeting alleged IT tampering in the management of claims. Last summer, the Turin prosecutor's office opened an investigation for false accounting (period 2008-2011) with eight suspects, to which Fonsai herself is added as a legal person. Meanwhile Salvatore Ligresti was interrogated for over two hours by the prosecutor of Milan Luigi Orsi.
