Mixed European Markets; MPS Trails Mib After Earnings

(Alliance News) - On Tuesday, European indices opened in negative territory, with only Paris slightly above break-even, despite morning data from Insee showing a rise in unemployment, particularly among the youth, while political tensions weigh on London, which records the steepest decline among the major European stock exchanges.

The FTSE Mib is down 0.1% at 46,766.93, the Mid-Cap is up 0.1% at 60,950.17, the Small-Cap rises 0.1% to 36,825.75, while Italy Growth advances 0.2% to 8,733.26.

London's FTSE 100 is down 0.5%, the CAC 40 in Paris gains 0.4% while Frankfurt's DAX 40 falls by 0.1%.

Back in Milan, on the main blue-chip list, Stellantis leads at the open, up 4.3%, with nearly 10 million shares already traded. The stock continues its recovery from recent declines after a 0.5% gain on Monday.

Brunello Cucinelli rises 2.8%, rebounding after two consecutive negative sessions.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena falls 2.4%, after announcing on Tuesday it closed 2025 with a net profit of EUR2.75 billion, up from EUR1.95 billion the previous year. The board approved the distribution of dividends totaling over EUR2.6 billion, equal to EUR0.86 per share, corresponding to a 10% dividend yield calculated on the February 6 market price.

The group's total revenues amounted to EUR4.96 billion; excluding the Mediobanca perimeter's contribution of EUR883 million, revenues stand at EUR4.07 billion.

The Siena bank's board also indicated an acceleration of activities toward full integration with Mediobanca, which rises 2.1%, to maximize operational synergies. In this context, the structure of the group will be defined, consistent with the industrial rationale of the deal and focused on value creation, leveraging skills and resources in a specialized model, with Mediobanca focused on high-end corporate & investment banking and private banking.

Guidelines will be outlined in the coming weeks, with the goal of approving the plan by February 26 and presenting the industrial plan for the business combination on February 27.

DiaSorin is also seeing buying interest, up 1.7% at EUR75.88. Deutsche Bank Research raised its target price to EUR74.00 from EUR71.00, confirming its hold recommendation.

Fincantieri is little moved, down 0.3%, after announcing Tuesday that its subsidiary WASS Submarine Systems secured an order from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense for the supply of MU90 lightweight torpedoes, valued at over EUR200 million.

UniCredit is up 0.1% after disclosing it bought back 2.3 million of its own shares between February 2 and 6 for a total of EUR173.1 million. This transaction closes the second tranche of the 2024 buyback, which led to the repurchase of a total of 26.2 million shares, equal to 1.7% of capital, for EUR1.77 billion.

Among the decliners, with few exceptions, are banking and insurance sector stocks, with Banco BPM down 1.4% and Assicurazioni Generali falling 1.8%, among the most notable retracements at the open.

At the bottom of the main list is Unipol, down 2.5%, wiping out gains made in the previous session.

On the Mid-Cap, Ariston Holding and Salvatore Ferragamo lead gains, both up 4.5%.

Selling hits Banca Generali, down 0.5%. The institute announced Monday that on January 22 the board of directors approved the simplified merger project for incorporation into Intermonte Partners SIM, a company belonging to the Banca Generali banking group.

BFF Bank, down 0.5%, nears EUR2 million in turnover and is also the most traded stock by volume.

At the bottom of the secondary list is NewPrinces, down 2.1%, extending losses from a 1.5% drop in the previous session.

On the Small-Cap, the best performer at the open is Somec, up 3.0%, after announcing the acquisition of a new order worth EUR53 million for the Talenta division, professional kitchen systems and products, via subsidiary Oxin.

On the opposite end, Fidia drops 4.2%, retreating after gains made on the previous day.

Banca Profilo, up 1.4%, announced it closed 2025 with a consolidated net profit of EUR10.0 million, up 7.7% from EUR9.3 million in 2024. In the fourth quarter alone, net profit was EUR600,000.

Antares Vision, down 0.2%, reported Monday it had reviewed preliminary management data for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as approved the 2026 budget and updated stand-alone industrial plan. The company expects 2025 revenues of around EUR204 million, with an adjusted Ebitda margin of about 16% and a PFN/adjusted Ebitda ratio of about 2.4x.

Among SMEs, Culti Milano has the highest turnover, advancing 0.5% at the session's open.

EdiliziAcrobatica, down 1.0%, announced Tuesday it closed 2025 with revenues of EUR166.7 million, up from EUR152.5 million the previous year.

Nusco, down 1.9%, reported Monday preliminary results as of December 31, 2025, showing revenues of EUR48.5 million, down from EUR51.2 million in the previous year.

Pozzi Milano, up 0.8%, announced Tuesday it had secured new orders from the Mexican market worth around USD1.7 million, equivalent to about EUR1.4 million.

At the tail end of the alternative list, Soges drops 5.5%.

In Asia, the Nikkei is up 2.3% at 57,650.54, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 4,128.37 and the Hang Seng gained 0.6% to 27,183.15.

In New York, the Dow closed flat yesterday at 50,135.87, the Nasdaq rose 0.9% to 23,238.67 and the S&P 500 gained 0.5% to 6,964.82.

On the currency front, the euro trades at USD1.1908 from USD1.1901 at Monday's European stock close, while the pound trades at USD1.3669 from USD1.3668.

Among commodities, Brent trades at USD69.01 per barrel from USD69.06 per barrel Monday evening, while gold is worth USD5,041.59 per ounce from USD5,079.80 per ounce.

Tuesday's calendar at 1030CET features a five-year Gilt and Bund auction.

From the US, retail sales are due at 1330CET, while at 2130CET the weekly oil inventory report is scheduled.

Among upcoming results, look for Arterra Bioscience, Banco di Desio e della Brianza, BFF Bank, Ferrari, Ubaldi Costruzioni, and Valtecne.

By Antonio Di Giorgio, Alliance News reporter

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