(Alliance News) - The Mib is set for another bearish opening in the final session of the week, according to futures markets, as the US-Israel conflict against Iran shows no signs of de-escalation.

Oil prices rose after Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed while Tehran intensified attacks on oil facilities and transport infrastructure in the region.

The Donald Trump administration issued a second authorization to allow buyers to collect Russian oil cargoes already at sea and stated it is considering easing maritime transport rules in an effort to reduce growing price pressure.

Consequently, the FTSE Mib - after closing down 0.8% at 44,456.18 yesterday evening - is currently marking a loss of 282.00 points.

Among the smaller indices on Thursday, the Mid-Cap lost 0.8% to 54,357.34, the Small-Cap fell 1.8% to 34,026.49, while Italy Growth retreated 1.0% to 8,382.29.

London's FTSE 100 is down 32.50 points, Paris's CAC 40 is shedding 47.00 points, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 is down 160.50 points.

In Milan, on Piazza Affari's blue-chip index yesterday evening, Leonardo outperformed the few stocks in the green, finishing at the top with a 5.7% gain.

The board of directors approved the 2025 results and guidance for 2026. The group ended the year with a net profit of EUR1.3 billion, up 15% from EUR1.15 billion the previous year. The board also proposed a dividend of EUR0.63 per share, a 21% increase over the previous year's EUR0.52 per share.

Eni followed, with the six-legged dog stock gaining 2.3% to EUR21.765, after hitting a new 52-week high of EUR21.825.

Strength was also seen in Telecom Italia, which closed up 2.0%.

STMicroelectronics slipped slightly, losing 0.6% to EUR28.95. During the session, the stock updated its 52-week high to EUR29.79 per share.

Shareholders' meetings of BPER Banca and Banca Popolare di Sondrio approved the merger by incorporation of PopSondrio into BPER, with the exchange ratio set at 1.45 BPER ordinary shares for each Popolare di Sondrio share.

BPER closed down 2.0% while PopSondrio shed 1.0%.

Among the decliners, UniCredit fell 3.8%, while Mediobanca lost 3.9%.

At the bottom of the main list was MPS, down 4.3%, with trades exceeding EUR280 million.

On the Mid-Cap, Salvatore Ferragamo performed well, closing up 11%. The company announced Wednesday that it ended the 2025 financial year with an adjusted net loss of EUR3 million compared to a profit of EUR16 million in 2024, excluding the negative effect of the Impairment Test for both 2024 and 2025.

The board of Avio - down 8.8% - approved accounts showing a net profit of EUR11.6 million, up 82% year-on-year. Net revenues stood at EUR541.7 million, a 23% annual increase.

Iren closed down 0.9%. The company announced it signed a EUR225 million financing agreement with the European Investment Bank to support the Italian multi-utility's investment program for the 2025-2028 period.

At the bottom of the second-tier list, Reply finished down 15%. The company closed 2025 with a group net profit of EUR250.9 million, up 19% from the EUR211.1 million recorded in 2024. The board will propose a dividend of EUR1.35 per share. Consolidated revenues reached EUR2.48 billion, up 8.0% from EUR2.30 billion the previous year.

On the Small-Cap, Italian Sea Group ended the session at the top with a 6.1% rise.

OPS Retail finished at the bottom of the list with a 21% drop.

Enervit - up 1.4% - announced Thursday that it closed 2025 with a net profit of EUR4.3 million, up from EUR4.1 million as of December 31, 2024. The company proposed a dividend distribution of EUR0.215 per share, up from the EUR0.16 paid in 2024.

Esprinet - down 16% - reported Wednesday that it closed 2025 with a net profit of EUR20.2 million, down from EUR21.5 million in 2024. Pre-tax profit rose to EUR31.6 million from EUR28.9 million the previous year, while net earnings per ordinary share stood at EUR0.41 compared to EUR0.44 in 2024. The board will propose a dividend of EUR0.35 per share to the assembly.

Gefran - down 4.1% - announced it approved the draft financial statements as of December 31, 2025, reporting revenues of EUR139 million, a 4.8% increase over EUR132.6 million in 2024. Net profit was EUR9.9 million, an 11% decrease of EUR1.3 million compared to EUR11.1 million in December 2024. The board will propose a dividend of EUR0.43, in line with the one paid in May 2025.

Among SMEs, Mare Group saw good buying - up 5.5% - after announcing Thursday that its board of directors resolved to join the voluntary public tender offer for all ordinary shares of Eles Semiconductor Equipment - down 0.3% - promoted by Xenon AIFM in its capacity as managing partner of Xenon Private Equity VIII.

Datrix - up 2.2% - announced Thursday its entry into the healthcare sector with a portfolio of adaptable AI solutions to support hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare organizations.

Among the most traded stocks by value, expert.ai fell 1.6%, while eViso gained 1.6%.

Among the stocks at the bottom of the alternative list, Eprcomunicazione lost 9.5%.

In New York - during the European evening - the Dow fell 1.6%, the Nasdaq retreated 1.8%, while the S&P 500 closed 1.5% in the red.

Among Asian markets, the Nikkei fell 1.2%, the Hang Seng is shedding 0.9%, while the Shanghai Composite dropped 0.8%.

On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1476 from USD1.1520 on Thursday, while the pound trades at USD1.3302 from USD1.3345 yesterday evening.

Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD101.50 a barrel from USD99.16 on Thursday, while gold is worth USD5,091.61 an ounce from USD5,167.50 yesterday evening.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar sees two indicators on prices and industrial activity from Spain at 0900 CET, with the Spanish PPI and CPI.

At 1000 CET, Italian industrial production is expected.

In the afternoon, attention shifts to the US. At 1330 CET, GDP and the PCE price index will be released.

At 1500 CET, the US JOLTS new jobs data is scheduled.

The day concludes at 1900 CET with Baker Hughes data on the total number of drilling rigs in the US.

Among Piazza Affari companies, results are expected from Biesse, Cembre, De' Longhi, El.En., Emak, Impianti, IRCE, LU-VE, MARR, and Neodecortech.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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