News: MQG Italy - Factors to watch on March 9

The following factors could affect Italian markets on Thursday.

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

For a complete list of diary events in Italy please click on

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	POLITICS 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday that European Union leaders needed to take firm action on migration after a shipwreck killed at least 72 people off the Italian coast last month.

ECONOMY Bank of Italy releases January data on Italian residents' deposits with domestic banks, bank lending to non-financial companies and gross bad loans at Italian banks.

DEBT Italy sold 8.56 billion euros of its latest BTP Italia inflation-linked bond due in March 2028 in the three days of a retail offer, data from Italy's bourse showed on Wednesday.

On Thursday the offer is reserved for institutional investors.

Treasury announces sale of BTP bonds, with relative amounts to be auctioned on March 14.

COMPANIES

STELLANTIS STLAM.MI Italy's largest automotive groups, led by Fiat-maker Stellantis, and unions on Wednesday signed an agreement for a 6.5% salary increase from this month for workers at their Italian operations to counter the effects of soaring inflation.

Stellantis said on Wednesday it had reached a preliminary agreement with South African authorities to build a production site, its first in the country, by the end of 2025.

SNAM SRG.MI An Italian administrative court has postponed to July 5 a decision over a complaint against a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Tuscan port of Piombino, the court said on Wednesday. The infrastructure is seen by the government as key to helping wean Italy off Russian gas. Italian gas grid operator Snam is in charge for the project.

(*) ENEL ENEI.MI Italy's biggest utility said on Thursday it will sell its Romanian operations to Greece's Public Power Corp DEHr.AT (PPC) for 1.26 billion euros ($1.33 billion), as part of its plan to cut debt and focus on cleaner energy.

TELECOM ITALIA TLIT.MI The rival bids for the network of Telecom Italia (TIM) are too low, the chief executive of leading TIM shareholder Vivendi VIV.PA said on Wednesday.

The French media group reported an annual loss attributable to shareholders of 1.01 billion euros ($1.07 billion), mainly due to the deconsolidation of Telecom Italia, after a profit of 24.69 billion euros in 2021.

(*) The consortium formed by Italian State lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the Australian fund Macquarie (MQG) is expected to notify the EU Commission on Thursday of its offer for TIM's network, in order to address any potential antitrust issues, a source close to the consortium said.

No antitrust problems will arise, the source added.

(*)JUVENTUS JUVE.MI The Italian Serie A soccer club said on Wednesday that its board had decided to postpone the approval of its results for the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year.

(*) MONTE DEI PASCHI BMPS.MI The bank said on Thursday that the European Central Bank had authorised its merger by absorption of MPS Capital Services and MPS Leasing & Factoring. The conclusion of the transactions is expected within the first half of the year, it added.

INWIT INWT.MI Shares in Italy's telecoms tower company rose around 4% after a sudden spike which a trader linked to a report in deals website Betaville, saying that INWIT has drawn bid interest from an unnamed suitor, citing sources.

EDISON EDNn.MI EDF EDF.PA has been in contact with potential advisers that may assist the French power giant to review strategic options for its Italian subsidiary Edison as it seeks ways to cut debt after a record loss, two sources said.

BANCA GENERALI BGN.MI The Italian asset manager's total net inflows in February stood at 442 mln euros, it said on Wednesday.

LEONARDO LDOF.MI Saudi Arabian operator THC will expand its fleet of Leonardo's AW139 helicopters to boost search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS) and corporate transport in the country, the Italian defence group said on Wednesday.

Board meeting on FY results.

M&A - ENERGY Australian infrastructure fund Macquarie (MQG) plans to buy a stake worth some 500 million euros in Italian petrol station operator IP in order to invest in charging stations for electric cars, daily La Stampa wrote on Thursday, without citing sources.

DANIELI & C DANI.MI Board meeting on H1 results.

AZIMUT HOLDING AZMT.MI Board meeting on FY results.

BPER BANCA EMII.MI Board meeting on FY results (preliminary FY results released on Feb. 8).

ITALGAS IG.MI Board meeting on FY results, followed by conference call (1500 GMT).

PRYSMIAN PRY.MI Board meeting on FY results, followed by conference call (1500 GMT).

AUTOGRILL AGL.MI Board meeting on FY results (revenues released on Feb. 15) followed by conference call (1500 GMT).

GEOX GEO.MI Board meeting on FY results (preliminary FY results released on Feb. 2) followed by conference call (1645 GMT).

BANCA IFIS IF.MI Board meeting on FY results (preliminary FY results released on Feb. 9).

CREDITO EMILIANO EMBI.MI Board meeting on FY results (preliminary FY results released on Feb. 6).

ILLIMITY BANK ILTY.MI Board meeting on FY results (preliminary FY results released on Feb. 9).

SAFILO GROUP SFLG.MI Board meeting on FY results (preliminary FY results released on Jan. 26).

PRADA 1913.F Conference call on FY results (1300 GMT).

DIARY Rome, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti receives German counterpart Christian Lindner (1100 GMT).

Rome, tax agency holds event 'Results achieved in 2022 and future prospects" with Director Ernesto Maria Ruffini, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, Economy Deputy Minister Maurizio Leo (0900 GMT).

Milan, 2nd edition business talk "The economy of sustainability" in presence and online (0830 GMT); expected attendees include Industry Minister Adolfo Urso (via videoconference), Brembo BRBI.MI board member Cristina Bombassei, Sisal CEO Francesco Durante, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Director Fabio Natalucci.

Milan, Althesys holds event "Utilities: global challenges, local answers" (0830 GMT); expected attendees include energy authority ARERA President Stefano Besseghini, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) Managing Director and Italy Country Manager Luca Schieppati (0930 GMT); Utilitalia president Filippo Brandolini (1010 GMT).

Cutro, Cabinet meeting (afternoon), followed by news conference.

Verona, 2nd edition "LET EXPO 2023" continues; ends on March 11. On Thursday Civil Protection and Sea Policy Minister Nello Musumeci is interviewed (1030 GMT); expected attendees include Labour Undersecretary Claudio Durigon (1100 GMT), Environment and Energy Security Deputy Minister Vannia Gava (1400 GMT).

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