Italian equities finished higher at the close in Milan, with sector gains in Technology, Telecoms and Chemicals providing upward momentum. At the close, the Italy 40 was up 0.55%.
The session's largest percentage winners included Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA (BIT:BMPS), which climbed 12.96% - a gain of 1.16 points to finish at 10.10. Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA (BIT:MDBI) advanced 11.98%, adding 2.59 points to end the day at 24.21, and Bper Banca SpA (BIT:EMII) rose 5.18%, or 0.60 points, to close at 12.27.
On the downside, UniCredit SpA (BIT:CRDI) recorded the largest decline among major names, falling 2.01% or 1.47 points to close at 71.68. Utilities provider Hera (BIT:HRA) slipped 1.88%, down 0.07 points to 3.76, while materials company Buzzi Unicem (BIT:BZU) was lower by 1.74%, a drop of 0.77 points to 43.53.
Market breadth at the Milan Stock Exchange showed more falling issues than rising ones: 412 stocks declined, 316 advanced and 53 finished unchanged.
Two of the day's bank movers reached notable price milestones. Shares of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA (BIT:BMPS) moved to three-year highs, finishing at 10.10 after the 12.96% increase. Separately, Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA (BIT:MDBI) closed at an all-time high of 24.21 following its 11.98% gain.
Commodity and currency moves accompanied equity action. Crude oil for July delivery rose 0.99%, up 0.90 to $91.44 a barrel. Brent for August delivery increased 1.62%, or 1.51, to $94.60 a barrel. The August Gold Futures contract was essentially flat, up 0.00% or 0.10 to trade at $4,365.40 a troy ounce.
In currency markets, EUR/USD was unchanged at 1.15 with a reported 0.21% figure, and EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.87 with a reported 0.17% figure. The US Dollar Index Futures declined 0.39% to 99.67.