Italy's benchmark equity gauge ended modestly higher on Thursday, as gains in energy, utilities and travel-related shares offset broad declines in industrials and financials.
The Investing.com Italy 40, which tracks the blue-chip segment of the Milan bourse, rose 0.02% to close at session highs. Advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 277 to 423, with 64 stocks unchanged.
Energy major Eni led the advancers, climbing 2.59% to close at €24.55, followed by gas utility Italgas, which added 1.92% to €8.79. Diagnostics group DiaSorin rose 1.60% to €74.72. On the downside, automaker Stellantis fell 3.71% to €4.47, while hearing aid maker Amplifon declined 2.99% to €11.85 and insurer Unipol Gruppo Finanziario dropped 2.96% to €27.52.
The euro held steady against the dollar, with EUR/USD flat at 1.17, while EUR/GBP was little changed at 0.86. The U.S. Dollar Index futures were up 0.04% at 98.77.
Commodity markets showed strength, with Brent crude for October delivery rising 2.34% to $93.76 per barrel and U.S. crude for October up 2.73% to $86.69. December gold futures advanced 0.68% to $4,575.99 per troy ounce.
