Italian Stocks - Factors to watch on May 21

MILAN, May 21 (Reuters) - 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 (*).

FIAT (FIA.MI)

The pursuit of German carmaker Opel appears to have narrowed
to a three-way race between Italy's Fiat, Canadian-Austrian car
parts group Magna (MGa.TO) and investment firm RHJ International
as Fiat confirmed it had submitted an offer for Opel and British
brand Vauxhall. [ID:nLK472390]

* The industrial group has more than a 50 percent chance of
winning General Motors' GM.N units Opel and Vauxhall, La
Stampa said, citing Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne.

* BANCO POPOLARE (BAPO.MI)

The bank's CEO said in an interview with La Repubblica he
sees 2009 net profit at just over 200 million euros.
[ID:nLL263742]

ENI (ENI.MI)

The group's retail bond will be for a total of about 1
billion euros, banking sources close to the deal said on
Wednesday. [ID:nMAT009593]

Shooting broke out in the Nigerian oil port city of Warri on
Wednesday following days of military helicopter and gunboat
raids on militant camps in the surrounding creeks, witnesses
said. [ID:nLK90087]

* The oil major is ready to sign a contract with the Iranian
government to invest $1.5 billion in the third phase of
development of the Darkhovin field, Finanza & Mercati said
citing Iranian TV on its website.

* ENEL (ENEI.MI)

A pool of 36 banks has been organised to support Enel's 8
billion euro capital increase, Il Messaggero said, without
citing sources. The price of the rights issue will be set on May
28.

* TELECOM ITALIA (TLIT.MI)

The government is discussing with the company plans to
develop the country's broadband telecommunications in a way that
avoids a demerger of Telecom Italia's network, Il Sole 24 Ore
said citing comments at a conference.

* Italian shareholders in Telecom Italia could link up in a
new shareholder pact which excluded Telefonica (TEF.MC) in order
to avoid antitrust problems with Telefonica in south America, MF
said in an unsourced report.

PARMALAT (PLT.MI), INTESA SANPAOLO (ISP.MI)

The company has agreed a settlement of 20 million euros with
units of Intesa Sanpaolo to conclude legal actions dating to
before Parmalat's insolvency when the units were not part of
Intesa. [ID:nLK965175]

UNIPOL (UNPI.MI)

Unipol's banking unit was revamped months ago, Unipol Chief
Executive Carlo Salvatori said on Wednesday, responding to a
media report on a Bank of Italy inspection. [ID:nLK600430]

* CARLO TASSARA

The holding company of financier Romain Zaleski has signed a
debt restructuring agreement that runs until 2011, longer than
previously expected, Il Sole 24 Ore said. Tassara owns stakes in
a series of Milan-quoted companies.

* ALITALIA

The government is studying increasing the reimbursement on
bonds issued by former-state owned airline Alitalia to more than
the 35 percent currently planned, Il Sole 24 Ore said.

SMALL, MID-CAPS

HERA (HRA.MI)

Moody's said it is reviewing Hera's A1 rating for possible
downgrade. [ID:nWNA4727]

IT HOLDING (ITH.MI)

The group's Ittierre unit and E.C. SpA have confirmed their
exclusive license agreement to produce and distribute C'N'C
fashion collection.

RDB (RDB.MI)

The company has sold 2.18 percent of its capital to
Adriasebina Srl which is controlled by France's Lafarge
(LAFP.PA)