In Italy, the FTSE MIB is fractionally down into the afternoon, showing a marginal 0.03% retreat from yesterday’s close. The heavyweight banking sector is, however, enjoying a positive day other than Finecobank, down 2.3% and Banca Monte Paschi Siena, which is down 1.91%. The bank, which is the world’s oldest in operation, has seen some significant troughs and peaks this week after it initiated the first step in its 5 billion euro recapitilisation strategy with a debt-swap offer on subordinated bonds. Otherwise, Bper Banca is up 6.28%, Ubi Banca 1.23%, UniCredit 1.29%, Banca Pop Milano 1.67% and Banca Populare 1.65%. Bper has recently announced investment in Iranian land. Insurer Generali is also up to the tune of 1.85%.
Among the index’s constituents with direct exposure to oil prices, Eni is up 2.13% while electricity and gas utility Enel is 1.42% down. Utilities company A2a is also down 1.69%, Italgas 1.36% and Snam, a gas infrastructure company, 3.61%. Luxury carmaker Ferrari is down 1.45% and Fiat Chrysler 0.55%.
In Amsterdam the AEX is down 0.8% with information services company Wolters Kluwer the biggest faller, down 4.17%. The company reported today that it had repurchased 249,136 of its own ordinary shares between November 24 and November 30. Totaling an €8.5 million investment at an average share price of €33.94 the buy-back is part of a €600 million buyback program initiated early this year.
Consumer goods and beer producers Unilever and Heineken are down 3.2% each while telecommunications company Koninklijke KPN has registered a 2.35% drop. Groceries retailer Koninklijke Vopak is down 2.41%.
Among the day’s gainers number Royal Dutch Shell and SBM offshore, who haven’t suffered the correction of many oil industry companies today and have added to gains, up 1.94% and 1.87% respectively.
Buwog, the residential property owner and manager, and Do & Co, the catering company again find themselves in the index’s bottom 2 today with respective 1.16% and 3.85% losses.
In Stockholm the OMX 30 is very slightly down heading towards 14:00, with a 0.14% loss. Consumer goods and paper manufacturer SCA is leading the losses with a drop of 2.68%, followed by Assa Abloy, the lock maker 1.72% down after a week on the up. Snuff and chewing tobacco maker Swedish Match and home appliance specialist Electrolux are also both down, 1.49% and 1.42% respectively.