The FTSE MIB rose 0.7% to close at 43,310, renewing a 18-year high, boosted by optimism after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a possible rate cut in September amid softening US labor conditions, which typically eases global financial markets. In Italy, the Mediobanca M&A battle ended as CEO Alberto Nagel lost a shareholder vote blocking his bid for Banca Generali (-0.1%), leaving the way open for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (+2.1%). On the index, STMicroelectronics (+4.7%) led gains, followed by Stellantis (+4.2%), Azimut (+3%), and Prysmian (+2.6%), while Terna and Finecobank both slipped 0.3%.