European stock markets are positive as they await the start of Wall Street, where futures are rising. The markets are focused on central banks, in a week in which decisions from the Fed, the Bank of England and Japan are expected. Oil’s rally continues, fueling fears of a new surge in inflation. On the currency front, the euro rose slightly to 1.0705 against the dollar. The Stoxx 600 index gained 0.2%. The best performance is that of Milan, which rises by 0.7%. Madrid (+0.5%), Paris (+0.3%) and London (+0.2%) are also on the rise, while Frankfurt is little changed (-0.03%). The main price lists are supported by the energy sector (+1%), thanks to the rise in oil prices. The WTI rises by 1.3% to 92.7 dollars a barrel, while Brent exceeds 95 dollars (+0.6%). The financial sector is on the rise, with banks earning 0.6% and insurance companies 0.7%. Utilities were also positive (+0.5%), thanks to the fall in gas prices. In Amsterdam, prices rise by 1% to 34.8 euros per megawatt hour. Government bond yields changed little. The spread between BTPs and Bunds remains at 177 points, with the Italian ten-year rate at 4.47%. Gold, a safe haven par excellence, rose by 0.5% to 1,936 dollars an ounce. In Piazza Affari, MPS’s run (+4.1%) continues, with press rumors on the bank’s future moves. Also in the spotlight were Tim (+2.6%), Nexi (+2.2%) and Leonardo (+2.1%). Mediobanca also did well (+1%), after the nominations committee proposed to the board of directors a shortlist of names for the new board of directors without representatives of Delfin. Cnh and Diasorin are down (-1.1%).
