(Alliance News) - On Tuesday, European markets ended in negative territory, with the Mib posting its third consecutive losing session and ranking among the day's worst performers.
Geopolitical tensions remain in the background, as the standoff between the EU and the US over the acquisition of Greenland—considered by Washington as strategic for national security—has led to escalating tariffs in the absence of a deal.
On the macroeconomic front, the ZEW economic sentiment indicator for the Eurozone rose by 7.1 points from the previous month, reaching 40.8 in January—the highest level since July 2024 and above market expectations of 35.2.
The Mib closed down 1.2% at 44,637.18 points, the Mid-Cap lost 1.1% to 60,046.50, the Small-Cap fell 1.1% to 37,211.07, and the Italy Growth index contracted by 0.8% to 8,722.60.
Other European indices also closed lower: the CAC 40 dropped 0.6%, the DAX 40 fell 1.1%, and the FTSE 100 declined 0.7%.
On Piazza Affari, fewer than ten stocks closed in positive territory: Amplifon gained 4.9%, Saipem rose 3.0%, Nexi was up 0.9%, and Campari advanced 3.7%.
Buzzi saw a 2.8% decline to EUR48.36 per share.
Stellantis, down 1.7%, is initiating 740 layoffs at its Tychy plant in Poland—nearly a third of its workforce—and is scrapping the third production shift, drawing protests from unions.
The company is also betting on more flexible electrification, focusing on the range extender—Reev—as a transitional solution between traditional engines and pure electric, both in the US and Europe.
The debate continues over the industrial plan and future structure between MPS—which fell 0.5%—and Mediobanca—down 0.2%—but after two days of meetings in Rome, no shared solution has yet emerged.
The atmosphere is described as constructive, but the MPS board has requested a review of all options, launching an inquiry without indicating a preferred direction.
In the telecommunications sector, further consolidation may be on the horizon. Investment banks are working on integrating PosteMobile into TIM via a capital increase reserved for Poste.
A key moment will be the TIM shareholders' meeting—TIM was at the bottom of the index with a 2.9% decline—scheduled for January 28 to vote on converting savings shares into ordinary shares. If approved, Poste's stake—down 0.5%—would fall from 27.3% to 19-20%, making room for the operation without surpassing the 30% takeover threshold.
On the Mid-Cap, SOL acquired 100% of the share capital of VitalAire Schweiz AG from Air Liquide, a leading operator in home respiratory care in Switzerland. The stock slipped 2.5%.
ERG—down 3.3%—is strengthening its presence in the UK through ERG UK Holding Ltd, which acquired 100% of a portfolio of seven onshore wind farms in Northern England from OnPath Energy Midco Limited.
MARR—down 0.2%—finalized the closing for the acquisition of 100% of Bergel+ Srl, a Lombardy-based foodservice distributor with over EUR25 million in sales in 2025, for EUR4.7 million.
Czech billionaire Karel Komárek's KKCG Maritime has launched a partial voluntary takeover bid to increase its stake in Ferretti from 14.5% to 29.9%, remaining below the mandatory takeover threshold. Ferretti's shares closed up 2.3%.
Alerion Clean Power, down 1.7%, has approved the issuance of a senior unsecured, non-convertible, and unsubordinated bond loan worth EUR200 million, with the option to increase by an additional maximum of EUR100 million.
Technoprobe performed well, gaining 1.7% to EUR16.00 per share, while Webuild slipped to the bottom of the index, down 4.4%.
Among small caps, Aeffe, down 1.9%, announced that in relation to the negotiated crisis resolution procedure for which the company and its subsidiary Pollini filed an application on October 2, a request has been submitted to the Bologna Ordinary Court to extend the protective and precautionary measures granted by orders dated November 28, 2025, and December 30, 2025.
I Grandi Viaggi closed the fiscal year ending October 31, 2025, with a consolidated net profit of EUR3.5 million, up from EUR3.3 million in the previous year. At the parent company level, net profit stood at EUR2.17 million, down from EUR2.80 million in 2024. The stock ended the session down 4.8%.
B&C Speakers—down 1.0%—announced that, based on preliminary unaudited data, consolidated revenues for 2025 will be EUR99.00 million, down 1.0% from EUR100 million in the previous year.
Activist investor Amber Capital has challenged the takeover bid launched by US technology group Crane NXT for Antares Vision, which was down 0.4%.
According to Amber Capital, the binding mandatory offer for the remaining 41% of the capital, at EUR5.00 per share, does not adequately reflect the company's value.
EHP led the gainers, surging 21%.
Among SMEs, Diadema Capital—not traded—announced the early release of the lock-up agreement on 250,000 ordinary shares held by Lefin Holdings.
Ecomembrane—down 1.7%—reported that its subsidiary SBS Solar has signed contracts to design and build four photovoltaic plants in the province of Cremona, for a total value of about EUR2.9 million.
TMP Group—down 2.3%—announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the production of the serial audiovisual project "Acque d'Italia—stories of champions and territories," conceived and fully produced by the company.
Telmes, down 4.5%, reported that Integrae SIM, as global coordinator, has partially exercised the greenshoe option in the company's capital increase during the placement of its ordinary shares, for 63,000 ordinary shares.
Smart Capital finalized the acquisition of a 466,500-share stake in Arterra Bioscience—up 8.3%—representing 7.01% of the company's share capital, at a price of EUR3.20 per share from reference shareholder Maria Gabriella Colucci.
SG Company—up 3.5%—reported that consolidated revenue last year was EUR50.1 million, up 29% from EUR38.7 million as of September 30, and up 45% from the full year 2024, which was EUR34.6 million.
This result allows the group to reach, 12 months ahead of schedule, the revenue target of the 2024–2026 industrial plan of EUR50.3 million.
In New York, the Dow Jones fell 1.2%, the Nasdaq lost 1.5%, and the S&P500 slipped 1.3%.
On the currency front, the euro changed hands at USD1.1734 from USD1.1645 at Monday's close in Europe, while the pound traded at USD1.3463 from USD1.3432 on Monday evening.
Among commodities, Brent crude traded at USD64.77 per barrel from USD64.11 per barrel on Monday, while gold was worth USD4,738.47 an ounce from USD4,671.09 an ounce on Monday evening.
On Wednesday's economic calendar, the UK price index is due at 0800 CET.
At 1300 CET, focus shifts to US mortgages, and at 1430 CET, President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak.
Central banks take the spotlight at 1515 CET in the UK with the BoE deputy governor, and at 1930 CET with a speech by the Bundesbank president.
No major events are scheduled on Piazza Affari.
By Michele Cirulli, Alliance News Reporter
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