MILAN, May 28 (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), OPEL GM.N, MAGNA (MGa.TO)
The fate of German carmaker Opel hung in the balance after
marathon talks on shielding it from the looming bankruptcy of
its U.S. parent General Motors ended without a deal.
A bidding battle for Opel has narrowed to a two-way race
between Fiat and Canadian auto parts maker Magna. [ID:nLS42616]
Chrysler looks set to clear its last major hurdle in its
sprint through bankruptcy court as soon as Thursday, when a
judge is expected to approve its sale to a group that includes
Fiat. [ID:nN27280982]
For more on the global auto crisis [ID:nCARS1]
SHORT-SELLING
Stock market regulator Consob said it is extending to July
31 the ban on short-selling, which was due to expire May 31.
[ID:nMAT009621]
ENEL (ENEI.MI)
The power utility giant won approval from Italian market
regulators to publish the prospectus for its rights offering of
up to 8 billion euros, it said in a statement late on Wednesday.
The utility's board meets on Thursday to set the terms of
the offering, such as the subscription price for the new shares
and the number of new shares to be issued.
LUXOTTICA (LUX.MI), MULTIOPTICAS
Italy's Luxottica, the biggest eyewear maker in the world,
is buying 40 percent of Spain's Multiopticas Internacional SL
for about 40 million euros in a push into the Latin American
market. [ID:nLR469194]
UTILITIES
Italy could see a raft of new corporate bond issues for
retail investors in the second half of the year, meeting growing
demand for alternative investments to state bonds, according to
investment bankers. One of them estimated issues could amount to
up to 12 billion euros.
Companies in the power sector such as Enel (ENEI.MI) and Eni
(ENI.MI) were proving to be especially keen in issuing bonds to
the retail market, according to the investment bankers. Others
include Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI) and Assicurazioni Generali
(GASI.MI). [ID:nLR984324]
TELECOM ITALIA (TLIT.MI)
A spin-off by a telecom company of its fixed network would
have a short-term positive impact on cash but would also be
"very negative" on the operator's business profile because it
would lose "flexibility in a key factor", according to Guy
Deslondes, responsible for Standard & Poor's European telecom
ratings in an interview in Il Sole 24 Ore.
BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI DI SIENA (BMPS.MI)
The bank's board has cleared the way for Director-General
Antonio Vigni to define a plan to sell 1.8 billion euros of its
real estate, Il Sole 24 Ore said without citing sources.
INTESA SANPAOLO (ISP.MI)
The bank is looking at options for its Fideuram private
banking and investment arm, according to Il Messaggero. It adds
that private equity funds and a large international bank could
be interested, without citing sources.
* ALITALIA
Bondholders of the airline could receive 70 percent of their
investment under a government plan, instead of the previous plan
for 30 percent, MF said in an unsourced report.
* BELSTAFF
Italy's Malenotti family is looking for offers by the end of
June for motorbike jacket maker Belstaff, whose customers
include Hollywood actors George Clooney and Brad Pitt, Il Sole
24 Ore said in an unsourced report.
SMALL, MID-CAPS
* SARAS (SRS.MI)
Magistrates have seized the company's refinery plant at
Sarroch in Sardinia, where three workers died in an accident on
Tuesday, Il Sole 24 Ore said, citing a communication by the
company to trade union representatives. Saras was not
immediately available to comment.
COMPANY RESULTS
The following companies will report results:
Terni Energia (TRNI.MI) Q1
