Futures on Wall Street indices are also slightly higher, as investors position themselves for the upcoming earnings season, which today features car manufacturers and airlines.
On a broader scale, with the latest geopolitical and trade turbulence related to Greenland and tariffs now behind, attention is focused on the Federal Reserve meeting set to conclude on Wednesday, though no changes to rates are expected. Additionally, markets will be watching the results from the so-called "Magnificent Seven" U.S. tech giants, starting tomorrow with Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla, to gauge whether the upward phase will continue.
Around 12:50, the Ftse Mib was up 0.40%, climbing back above the 45,000-point mark. Trading volumes remain decidedly low, not reaching 900 million euros.
Stocks in focus today
** Banks remain positive, with the sector index advancing by 0.8%. The major players UNICREDIT (+1.2%) and INTESA (+0.7%) are both strong. The sole decliner is MEDIOBANCA, down 2%, penalized by the "overhang" effect following speculation in a newspaper that its controlling shareholder, BANCA MPS (+0.56%), may reduce its stake from the current 86% to as low as 51% in Piazzetta Cuccia.
** Among fintech companies, NEXI is under heavy pressure, falling 2.5% amid a negative sector backdrop across Europe; French peer WORLDLINE is also down more than 1% in Paris.
** Buying interest in POSTE ITALIANE, which rises 1%. Ahead of its Q4 2025 results, broker Citi has slightly raised its estimates for 2026-27 and set new forecasts for 2028. The target price for the stock has been increased to 24.40 euros from the previous 23.15 euros.
** BRUNELLO CUCINELLI gains 0.40% after Morgan Stanley resumed coverage with an 'overweight' rating and set a target price at 95 euros. By contrast, FERRAGAMO is sold off (-1.45%) as the market awaits quarterly revenue figures due after the close.
** The energy and utilities sectors are largely overlooked, with ENI down 0.44%. PRYSMIAN, on the other hand, advances 1.65%.
Finally, CAMPARI slides 2.25%, and AMPLIFON falls 2.9%.
(Giancarlo Navach, editing Claudia Cristoferi)
