(Alliance News) – On Friday, major European indices closed in positive territory, despite a tough session for Stellantis and as precious metals ended the week recouping earlier losses.
"After two weeks of heightened volatility, even gold and silver prices managed to recover lost ground, with gold even closing the week slightly higher," commented Axel Rudolph, Chief Technical Analyst at IG.
In Europe, "German exports quadrupled, up 4% month-on-month, surpassing forecasts and reaching a 20-month high, driven by increased shipments to both EU and non-EU countries. In the UK, the pound returned to USD1.36 but was still heading for its steepest weekly drop since late October, under pressure from renewed political uncertainty and a more dovish-than-expected monetary policy stance from the Bank of England, highlighted by a split 5-4 vote that made a near-term rate cut a tangible prospect."
Thus, the FTSE Mib closed up 0.1% at 45,877.20, the Mid-Cap rose 0.4% to 60,375.96, the Small-Cap was fractionally positive at 36,595.30, while Italy Growth slipped 0.4% to 8,689.81.
Across Europe, London's FTSE 100 finished up 0.6%, Frankfurt's DAX 40 climbed 0.9%, and Paris's CAC 40 gained 0.4%.
Back in Milan, on the main blue-chip index, Prysmian topped the board, rising 3.6%. According to JPMorgan, the company's growth profile remains solid and is supported by structural drivers despite the stock's sharp re-rating.
The group directly benefits from accelerated investment in power grids, the spread of data centers, and the electrification process. These factors are more than offsetting weakness in cyclical activities and explain the resilience in growth.
Additionally, AQR Capital Management increased its short position on the stock to 0.81% from 0.7%.
Buzzi also fared well, rising 2.7%. The company released preliminary figures for fiscal year 2025, reporting consolidated revenue of EUR4.52 billion, up 4.8% from EUR4.31 billion in 2024.
FinecoBank closed up 2.1%. On Friday, the company announced it had approved its 2025 accounts, closing with a net profit of EUR647.0 million, in line with the previous year. The board proposed a dividend of EUR0.79 per share, a 7% annual increase.
Among the losers, Stellantis had a rough day, closing down more than 25%. On Friday, the company said it had conducted a reassessment of its strategy and related costs, reporting that in the second half of 2025, it incurred charges of about EUR22 billion.
Furthermore, given the net loss for 2025, the company announced that no dividends will be distributed in 2026, while the board authorized the issuance of up to EUR5.00 billion in non-convertible, perpetual, subordinated hybrid bonds.
The fashion sector also weighed, with Brunello Cucinelli and Moncler falling 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.
Terna closed at EUR9.478 per share, up 1.4% from the previous day, marking its highest value since its June 2004 listing. Led by CEO Giuseppina Di Foggia, the company now boasts a market capitalization exceeding EUR19 billion.
Friday's record surpasses the previous high set on January 6, when Terna shares reached EUR9.404 apiece.
Among midcaps, Anima Holding rose 0.2% after announcing Friday that it closed January with a negative net inflow in managed savings ex-branch I of EUR175 million.
Overall, total assets under management saw a negative net inflow of EUR139 million in January, the result of outflows from managed segments and inflows into traditional insurance.
The board of Credito Emiliano – flat at EUR15.86 – approved its accounts on Thursday, closing 2025 with a consolidated net profit of EUR621.5 million versus EUR620.1 million in 2024.
The board also announced a dividend of EUR0.75 per share, up from EUR0.70 in 2024, corresponding to a 4.7% yield on the current share price.
Pirelli & C fell 1.1%. On Thursday, the company reported that its board had voted by majority in support of CEO Andrea Casaluci's strategy for the future of Cyber Tyre activities, confirming the technology should remain fully integrated within the group's industrial and organizational perimeter.
The decision was approved with nine votes in favor and five against, the latter coming from board members linked to the Chinese shareholder.
According to Pirelli, spinning off Cyber Tyre would destroy the integrated industrial model, reduce competitiveness and value, and would not enable overcoming the constraints of US regulations.
On the Small-Cap index, Banca Sistema rose 0.5% after reporting results as of December 31, 2025, with a net profit of EUR42.3 million, up 68% from EUR25.2 million at the end of 2024.
The result was also driven by a EUR103 million payment from a municipality subject to a European Court of Human Rights ruling, which allowed the booking of EUR40.9 million in late payment interest.
Generalfinance jumped 5.1%. The company approved its 2025 accounts, closing with a net profit of EUR28.8 million, up from EUR21.1 million the previous year, and proposing a unit dividend of EUR1.36, higher than the EUR0.83 paid in 2024.
OPS Italia dropped 5.9%. The company announced the full extinguishment of a debt of over EUR1.6 million via conversion to equity, an operation that significantly strengthens its balance sheet and drastically reduces indebtedness.
The move reduces the company's debt to about EUR350,000 from around EUR2.0 million and consists of the conversion of claims held by Taddia and Di Meglio against OPS Italia, related to the acquisition of PayStore.
Among SMEs, TradeLab surged 7.7%. On Friday, the company announced it had acquired the remaining 50% stake in OnTheMap Geomarketing from Telecom Italia – up 2.6% on the Mib – thus becoming its sole owner.
Predict fell 3.1%. The company disclosed it had signed a network contract with Weatecho Srl, a research and development firm spun off from the Polytechnic University of Bari, specializing in nanotechnology and advanced sensors.
The contract will last two years and, according to the company, aims to create an integrated collaborative robotics ecosystem to make processes in public and private hospitals more efficient and safer.
Eles slipped 0.3%. On Thursday, the company announced the acquisition of a new order from a US-based client operating in the biomedical sector.
In New York, the Dow was up 1.7% at 49,753.97, the Nasdaq gained 1.4% to 22,863.30, and the S&P 500 was up 1.4% at 6,891.20.
In currency markets, the euro was trading at USD1.1812 from USD1.1798 at Thursday's European stock close, while the pound was at USD1.3608 from USD1.3653 the previous evening.
Among commodities, Brent was trading at USD68.53 a barrel from USD67.58 on Thursday, while gold was at USD4,961.86 an ounce from USD4,874.52 an ounce the previous evening.
Monday's calendar opens at 0030 CET in Japan with the release of seasonally adjusted current account data. At 0800 CET in Switzerland, SECO economic forecast data is due.
At 1030 CET, the sentix investor confidence index is expected.
On the bond front, at 1500 CET, French BTF auctions with 3-, 6-, and 12-month maturities are scheduled, while at 1730 CET, it's time for the US Treasury bill auctions with 3- and 6-month maturities.
Among companies listed on Piazza Affari, results are expected from Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Banca Profilo, EdiliziAcrobatica, Mediobanca, and Nusco.
By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to redazione@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2026 Alliance News IS Italian Service Ltd. All rights reserved.
