Italian Stocks - Factors to watch on Jan 31

MILAN, Jan 31 (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 (*).

U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE CUTS RATES

The U.S. Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a half-percentage point in an aggressive effort to halt a sharp downturn in the country's economy.

ITALIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Senate speaker Franco Marini agreed to try to form an interim government aimed at reforming electoral rules that are blamed for the collapse last week of the country's 61st government since World War Two.

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ENEL (ENEI.MI)

The country's biggest power producer reports 2007 results after the market close. Reuters Knowledge's consensus estimate for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation is 9.23 billion euros.

ALITALIA AZPIa.MI

The state-controlled airline said finances had worsened so much since a survival plan in August it needed 750 million euros of fresh cash by mid-year to survive alone, as a political crisis looked set to delay any takeover by giant Air France-KLM.

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