(Alliance News) - European index futures point to a sharply lower open on Monday, amid a strong risk-off environment linked to escalating tensions between the US and Iran. The seizure of an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman and Tehran's decision to suspend the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have reignited the geopolitical risk premium.
The immediate market reaction is concentrated in the energy sector, with a fresh rally in oil and gas fueled by fears of potential supply disruptions through one of the world's primary global bottlenecks.
The MIB - after closing its previous run up 1.8% at 48,869.43 points - is expected to open down by 600.00 points.
Among other European markets, the CAC 40 is projected to drop 109.00 points, DAX 40 futures indicate a decline of 363.00 points, while the FTSE 100 is called down 44.50 points.
Among the minor indices on Friday, the Mid-Cap gained 2.7% to 59,262.51, the Small-Cap recorded an increase of 1.9% to 35,554.30, and Italy Growth rose 0.2% to 8,762.73 points.
On the MIB, Stellantis saw strong momentum on Friday evening, closing up 6.8% following a 1.2% loss in the previous session.
Brunello Cucinelli gained 4.3% after finishing 0.5% in the red the day before.
FinecoBank climbed 3.9% to EUR22.43 after Thursday's 0.3% dip, which had interrupted a seven-session winning streak. Notably, BofA upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral" and raised its price target to EUR25.70 from EUR22.50.
Selling pressure hit Eni, which shed 7.0%, dragged down by the sharp decline in crude prices and following a 0.4% gain the previous day.
Its subsidiary Saipem followed suit, falling 5.4% to mark its third consecutive bearish session.
In the mid-cap segment, Technoprobe ended its run advancing 9.6% to EUR18.85 per share.
BFF Bank gained 9.5% following a flat session the previous day, with the price hovering around EUR2.07 per share.
OVS - bullish with a 6.5% gain - announced on Thursday that it closed the fiscal year ended January 31 with an adjusted net profit of EUR89.4 million, up 15% from EUR77.9 million the previous year. Furthermore, the board of directors resolved to propose a dividend of EUR0.14 per share to the shareholders' meeting, a 27% increase over the EUR0.11 paid in 2024.
Alerion fell 4.1% to EUR22.40 per share, marking its fourth bearish session.
On the Small-Cap index, Caltagirone Editore gained 8.1%, following a 2.6% rise on Thursday evening.
Aquafil also saw solid buying interest, closing up 6.0% at EUR1.55 per share.
FNM - down 1.7% - announced on Thursday that its board of directors approved the purchase of 20 new trains for the Lombardy regional rail service, as part of the modernization of rolling stock used by Trenord. The operation involves a total investment of approximately EUR170 million, executed under existing Framework Agreements with suppliers.
Gas Plus shed 2.1% to EUR6.06 per share, after a 0.7% gain the previous day had broken a four-session selling streak.
Among SMEs, Laboratorio Farmaceutico Erfo gained 2.9%, rebounding after two sessions in a downtrend.
CrowdFundMe pushed its bar 6.0% higher to EUR1.06 per share. On the MarketScreener platform, based on a single analyst, the stock is listed with a target price of EUR1.40, suggesting an undervaluation margin of approximately 40%.
Eprcomunicazione shares climbed 3.2% to EUR1.29. Envent confirmed an "outperform" rating and a target price of EUR2.85, citing 2025 results that exceeded expectations and a strengthening strategic positioning. The group ended the year with revenues of EUR11.4 million, up 40% year-on-year and above estimates, while EBITDA reached EUR1.4 million, more than doubling from the previous year, with margins rising to 12%. Net profit returned to positive territory at EUR0.3 million, following a loss in 2024.
Laggards included Diadema Capital, which fell 8.8%, bringing its price to EUR1.55 per share.
In New York, the Dow Jones closed up 1.8%, the Nasdaq gained 1.6%, while the S&P 500 finished 1.3% higher.
In Asia, the Nikkei is up 0.6%, while the Shanghai Composite and the Hang Seng are both trading 0.6% higher.
On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1752 from USD1.1807 on Friday evening, while the pound is at USD1.3487 from USD1.3559 on Friday evening.
Among commodities, as mentioned, Brent crude rose to USD95.05 per barrel from USD88.90 on Friday evening, while gold is valued at USD4,792.80 per ounce from USD4,872.35 on Monday evening.
Monday's macroeconomic calendar features a 3-month and 6-month Treasury bill auction in the US at 1730 CEST.
On the corporate calendar, results are expected from OPS Italia, Risanamento, and Saccheria F.lli Franceschetti.
By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter
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