(Alliance News) - The MIB opened in positive territory on Tuesday, reversing the previous session's negative close, amid a gradual improvement in risk sentiment across global markets.

Investor focus remains centered on geopolitical developments in the Middle East, with expectations of a potential agreement between the US and Iran continuing to support risk-on assets. Specifically, statements from President Donald Trump, confirming the postponement of a planned strike against Iran following requests from Qatari leaders, helped reduce the geopolitical risk premium in early trading hours.

On the monetary front, interest rate pricing continues to reflect a hawkish stance from major central banks. For the European Central Bank, markets are pricing in approximately three hikes by year-end, with a nearly 90% probability of a first move as early as the June meeting, a factor that continues to influence the sensitivity of rate-exposed sectors.

Concurrently, for the Bank of England, expectations have been scaled back to two further hikes by December, signaling a slightly less aggressive outlook compared to previous weeks.

Consequently, the FTSE MIB is rising 0.5% to 48,888.32 points.

London's FTSE 100 is up 0.5%, the CAC 40 in Paris is rising 0.7%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt is gaining 1.0%.

Among Milan's smaller indices, the Mid-Cap is advancing 0.4% to 60,644.20, the Small-Cap is up 0.4% to 34,478.65, while Italy Growth is rising 0.2% to 8,847.21.

On the MIB, Leonardo is gaining 6.4% following a 1.9% rise in the previous session.

UniCredit is down 0.4%. Commerzbank's management has formally rejected UniCredit's offer, judging it to lack an adequate premium and a credible strategic plan. According to the German management, the standalone 'Momentum 2030' plan would guarantee more value for shareholders. Commerzbank also disputes the synergy assumptions put forward by UniCredit, deeming them speculative and risky for customers, employees, and financial stability, highlighting concerns related to staff cuts, IT integration, and UniCredit's exposure to Russia.

Piazza Gae Aulenti has increased its exposure through derivatives, maintaining a 26.8% direct stake and bringing its total potential holding to 38.9%.

Avio - leading the pack with a 5.4% gain - announced on Tuesday the successful launch of the 'Smile' (Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) scientific satellite for the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences from the European Spaceport in French Guiana via a Vega C launcher.

Prysmian, however, is shedding 2.7%, marking its third bearish session with the price hovering around EUR143.90 per share.

In the mid-cap segment, Reply is advancing 3.7% to EUR102.50, positioned for its fourth consecutive bullish session.

LU-VE - flat at EUR68.10 per share - announced on Monday the inauguration of a new production area at its Jacksonville, Texas plant, completed as part of its industrial development project in the US.

The expansion of the Jacksonville facility added 20,000 sqm, bringing the total surface area to over 30,000 sqm, including offices and production zones.

De' Longhi - down 0.7% - announced on Monday that, between May 11 and May 15, it purchased 38,613 of its own ordinary shares at an average price of EUR35.7484 each, for a total value of EUR1.4 million.

Profit-taking hit Technoprobe, which is down 4.4% after three sessions in which it increased its market capitalization by over 45%.

On the Small-Cap index, Somec is advancing 3.6% after three bearish sessions, bringing the price to the EUR17.10 area per share.

FILA - up 0.9% - announced on Monday that, on May 15, it purchased 25,000 of its own ordinary shares at an average price of EUR8.9262 each, for a total value of EUR223,155.84.

BasicNet - down 0.9% - reported on Monday the purchase of 51,000 treasury shares between May 11 and May 15. The shares were acquired at an average price of EUR7.024 for a total value of EUR358,227.88.

The board of directors of EuroGroup Laminations - down 3.2% - approved on Monday the results for the first quarter, which closed with a net loss of EUR3.1 million compared to a loss of EUR2.1 million recorded in the same period of 2025. During the period, group revenues stood at EUR203.5 million, down 3.4% year-on-year at constant exchange rates and 8.0% compared to EUR221.1 million in Q1 2025 at current exchange rates, within a macroeconomic and market context still described as complex by the company.

Among SMEs, Execus is advancing 4.6% to EUR1.15 per share, following two bearish sessions.

Pattern - not yet traded - announced on Monday that its board approved the launch of a share buyback and disposal program, following the shareholders' resolution of April 20. The plan will start on May 19 and remain in effect until December 31, 2026, with a maximum value set at EUR500,000.

Next Geosolutions - up 1.9% - announced on Monday that it has been awarded a contract by TenneT TSO BV for a total of approximately EUR9 million.

Alfio Bardolla, meanwhile, is shedding 6.8%, after a 4.2% gain the previous day.

Among Asian markets, the Nikkei closed down 0.4%, the Shanghai Composite advanced 0.9%, and the Hang Seng is up 0.6%.

On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1632 from USD1.1639 on Monday evening, while the pound is trading at USD1.3400 from USD1.3365 on Monday.

Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD110.53 per barrel from USD110.57 per barrel on Monday evening, while gold is worth USD4,542.70 per ounce from USD4,534.00 per ounce at yesterday's close.

On Tuesday's economic calendar, the ADP employment report from the US is due at 1415 CEST, while weekly oil inventory data will be available at 2230 CEST.

On the corporate calendar for Piazza Affari, results from Itway and Officina Stellare are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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