(Alliance News) – On Friday, major European markets closed the week in negative territory.
On the macroeconomic front, Italian inflation accelerated slightly year-on-year in December, according to Istat. Consumer prices rose by 1.2% after increasing by 1.1% the previous month. On average, in 2025, consumer prices are expected to grow by 1.5%, up from 1.0% in 2024.
The Mib ended the session down 0.1% at 45,799.69 points, the Mid-Cap was up 0.2% at 61,345.70, the Small-Cap closed down 0.6% at 37,853.18, and Italy Growth contracted by 0.1% to 8,864.31.
The CAC 40 closed down 0.7%, the DAX 40 slipped 0.3%, while the FTSE 100 ended marginally in the red.
Chris Beauchamp of IG commented: “With a long weekend ahead, it was likely that some of Wall Street’s enthusiasm would wane, and European markets followed suit after a strong start to the year for global equities. Monday’s volatility around Jerome Powell is now forgotten, and while the earnings season has not yet brought major upside surprises, it has done enough to support equities this week.”
“Attention now shifts to tech stocks, which continue to be the main driver of earnings, even though their advantage has recently eroded,” the analyst concluded.
On the Milan Stock Exchange, the board of Monte dei Paschi di Siena – down 4.2% – is expected to approve the 2026 calendar on Thursday the 22nd, a key year for the bank. By mid-March, both the industrial plan for the group with Mediobanca – which saw a 3.5% decline – required by the European Central Bank, and the list of candidates the outgoing board will propose to the April 16 shareholders’ meeting for the renewal of top management must be presented.
Additionally, MPS successfully completed the placement of a European Covered Bond – Premium – of the Conditional Pass Through type maturing on January 22, 2030, aimed at institutional investors, for a total amount of EUR750 million.
On the M&A front, “Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone has not had contact with MPS CEO Luigi Lovaglio for several weeks,” reads a group statement denying any ongoing direct talks between the two. Caltagirone’s stock, among the midcaps, fell 2.1%.
Italgas – flat at EUR10.17 – is accelerating on biomethane, connecting a new plant in Porto Tolle, Rovigo province, to the grid, capable of turning agricultural waste into enough energy for about 2,400 households.
The new Ferrari shareholder agreement, down 2.1%, which locks up a total of 32% of the capital, significantly redefines the balance between the two main shareholders, Exor and Piero Ferrari.
The agreement gives the founder’s son broad freedom of action, allowing him to sell up to 5% of the Maranello company at any time without voiding the pact and, above all, to withdraw from the agreement early at his own discretion.
For Antonio Filosa of Stellantis – which dropped 3.0% – the current year will be crucial for expanding the U.S. market with more profitable brands such as Jeep and Ram.
Leonardo signed an agreement to acquire Enterprise Electronics Corporation, a U.S. company specializing in the development, production, and maintenance of meteorological radar instruments and satellite reception stations for meteorology, hydrology, research, and aviation, both in the military and civil sectors. The stock gained 1.7%.
Eni, up 0.8%, announced together with partners China National Petroleum Corporation, ENH, KOGAS, and XRG, in Geoje, South Korea, the launch of the Coral North FLNG hull north of Mozambique, in line with the project’s timeline.
Campari closed up 3.8% at EUR5.844; Brunello Cucinelli ended down 5.4%.
On the Mid-Cap, Ferretti – up 0.6% – announced that Ferretti International Holding purchased 235,000 ordinary shares of the company. The shares were bought at an average price of EUR3.53 each, for a total value of EUR829,550.
MAIRE, together with subsidiary Nextchem, won two contracts in China and led the gainers with a 5.9% rise to EUR13.95 per share, followed by WIIT up 4.7% at EUR23.35.
On the smaller listing, luxury stocks closed the basket with marked losses: Salvatore Ferragamo dropped 4.8%.
Among small caps, Antares Vision – up 0.2% – reported that Consob has suspended the review period related to the takeover bid launched by Crane NXT Inspection and Tracking Technologies.
The M&A activity among smaller banks continues, pending the decisive phase for larger institutions. The next milestone is set for January 26, when Banca Cf+’s OPAS for Banca Sistema begins, which rose 0.2%.
Generalfinance – down 0.8% – successfully completed the private placement of additional unsecured bonds for a total amount of EUR20 million, intended exclusively for qualified investors.
Caleffi was the day’s top performer on the list with a 2.6% gain.
Among SMEs, Eles – flat at EUR3.18 per share – announced that the board has appointed Alessandro Violante as a new board member. The appointment follows the failed appointments of Michael Bosco, not confirmed by shareholders, and a director suggested by Mare Group, which closed down 3.0%.
Haiki+, up 0.9%, reported that IGERS, in which it holds a 24.5% stake and which operates in textile waste recycling, has obtained authorization to build a new textile recycling plant. The project involves a total investment of EUR6 million.
Metriks AI, with no trading activity, issued a EUR1.8 million bond for bolt-on acquisitions.
Marzocchi Pompe closed up 9.8% at EUR2.24 per share.
In New York, the Dow Jones was steady at 49,444.07 points, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 both gained 0.1%.
On the currency front, the euro changed hands at USD1.1598 from USD1.610 at Thursday’s close of European equities, while the pound traded at USD1.3384 from USD1.3391 the previous evening.
Among commodities, Brent traded at USD64.41 per barrel from USD63.60 per barrel yesterday, while gold was valued at USD4,592.69 an ounce from USD4,599.53 an ounce on Thursday evening.
The economic calendar for Monday notes the closure of U.S. markets for Martin Luther King Day.
At 1200 CET, the German Buba monthly report is expected. From 1500 CET, French BTF auctions are scheduled.
On the Milan Stock Exchange, results from I Grandi Viaggi are expected.
By Michele Cirulli, Alliance News Reporter
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