The following factors could affect Italian markets on Monday.
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 IT/DIA .
CORONAVIRUS
Italy recorded 28,907 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, down from the record of 31,758 posted on Saturday, official data showed. The health ministry also reported 208 COVID-related deaths, down from 297 the day before.
Italy's health minister said on Sunday that new data on the coronavirus was "terrifying" and the country had two days to approve further restrictions to curb its spread, as the government prepared to announced a new decree as early as Monday. resurgence of the virus has been stronger than expected by anyone, even in Europe," Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said in a television interview on national broadcaster RAI on Sunday.
ECONOMY
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Friday Italy would extend a block on firings until March 2021, in a fresh effort to contain the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on the jobs market. Markit releases October manufacturing PMI (0845 GMT).
Transport Ministry releases October car sales data (1700 GMT).
October state sector borrowing requirement data.
COMPANIES
MONTE DEI PASCHI BMPS.MI
State-owned Italian bank Monte dei Paschi is weighing options to boost its capital to withstand higher provisions against legal risks and the cost of a bad loan clean-up, three sources close to the matter said. The bank's board will resume discussions on Monday after it decided to set aside more than 400 million euros on Thursday following the conviction of three former executives. government is working to support Monte dei Paschi after negotiating with the EU a turnaround process which must include a merger with a strong peer, Italian Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said on Saturday.
The Treasury on Saturday dismissed as groundless reports describing a proposal it made to UniCredit to take on Monte dei Paschi that would see the state inject 2-2.5 billion euros in capital to cover higher provisions against legal risks and the cost of laying off 6,000 staff, while another 3 billion euros would be made available as deferred tax assets.
NEXI NEXII.MI
Italian payments technology firm Nexi is leading negotiations to buy Nordic rival Nets in an all-stock deal worth about $10 billion after trumping competition from U.S. firm Global Payments GPN.N , four sources told Reuters. CRDI.MI , BANKING SECTOR
The management has made a considerable effort to improve the lender's fundamental indicators and its solidity, the Chairman of UniCredit's investor CRT Torino told Milano Finanza on Saturday.
Speaking about the Italian banking sector, the chairman of CRT, which is also an investor in Banco BPM BAMI.MI , said he hoped domestic lenders would focus on M&A with other Italian-based entities rather than looking for foreign partners.
(*) GENERALI GASI.MI , CATTOLICA ASSICURAZIONE CASS.MI
Italy's top insurer is considering increasing its current 24.5% stake in Cattolica CASS.MI to 30%, after a large number of Generali's rival shareholders have opted to exit and cash in rather than endorse the bank's recent transformation from cooperative to joint-stock company, Corriere Economia said.
(*) ATLANTIA ATL.MI
Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and Macquarie, which are working with state lender CDP on an offer for Atlantia 's 88% stake in the Autostrade motorway unit are "aiming for a return on investment of no less than 10%", Repubblica's weekly Affari&Finanza said.
ENI ENI.MI
After venturing into photovoltaic, the group will expand its wind farms, both onshore and offshore, the Director General of the 'Energy evolution' division told Corriere della Sera in an interview on Sunday. "Firstly because geographical and technological diversification is a must, and then because offshore construction is a sector close to us from an industrial point of view," Massimo Mondazzi said.
TISCALI TIS.MI , TELECOM ITALIA TLIT.MI
Telecom Italia and smaller rival Tiscali have extended to Nov. 15 a memorandum of understanding for Tiscali to take a commercial participation in FiberCop, the last-mile network project TIM has been developing with U.S. fund KKR, Tiscali said on Saturday. SECTOR
China's No. 2 telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp 000063.SZ 0763.HK intends to grow in Italy also by selling its smartphones and tablets, the Chairman for Western Europe and CEO for Italy Kun Hu told Il Sole 24 Ore on Saturday.
"We will do whatever it takes to develop the business, including entering the device market," Kun Hu said. The group plans to invest one billion euros in Italy starting from the beginning of 2021 over the next three years. Kun Hu called on Rome to avoid creating disadvantages for non-EU technology.
FINCANTIERI FCT.MI
The finalisation of the bid of the Italian shipbuilder on France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique will be further pushed back, to Dec. 31, as the groups wait for a verdict from Brussels on the market impact of the deal, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Sunday.
(*) A couple days ago the French Senate's Economic Affairs Committee published a very critical report on the operation, calling for France to obtain a minority shareholding which would allow it to block any unwanted moves by Fincantieri, La Stampa said on Monday. The report added that rumours said the deal doesn't matter as much as before to either France or Italy as the industry's outlook is now much less prosperous than before because of the pandemic.
(*) DIASORIN DIAS.MI
The diagnostics specialist is developing a rapid test to assess the immune response of the future COVID-19 vaccine, CEO Carlo Rosa told Corriere Economia, giving no indication on the company's results in the fourth quarter "because we still can not predict the fallout of new lockdowns".
JUVENTUS FC JUVE.MI
Cristiano Ronaldo made an immediate impact on his return from a COVID-19 infection on Sunday, scoring three minutes after coming on as a substitute before converting a penalty to lead Juventus to a 4-1 Serie A win at Spezia.
SS LAZIO LAZI.MI
Lazio produced the most dramatic comeback of the Serie A season so far when they scored twice in stoppage time to win 4-3 at Torino on Sunday after their opponents had themselves taken the lead in the 87th minute. ROMA ASR.MI
AS Roma continued their impressive start to the season when Leonardo Spinazzola and Pedro gave them a 2-0 win over Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday. UMBERTO MARMI FUMA.MI
Trades ex-dividend of 0.23 euro per ordinary share as extraordinary dividend.
H-FARM HFARM.MI
Starts capital increase; ends on Nov. 20.
DIARY
Prime Minister Conte addresses the Chamber of Deputies (1100 GMT) and the Senate (1600 GMT) on the health emergency in the country and the new measures the government will adopt to curb contagion.
Foreign Press Association holds FB live streaming meeting with Padua University professor of microbiology Andrea Crisanti (1100 GMT).