The FTSE MIB gained 0.4% to close at 43,258 on Friday on support from positive corporate news and gains for a majority of heavyweight banks. Banco BPM jumped 1.5% as markets continued to assessed its M&A outlook, while Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit each rose 0.6%. On the other hand, MPS (-0.9%) and Mediobanca (-0.6%) fell. Generali eased after its Czech branch cut its Exxon Mobil stake by 25.2% in Q2. Also, Stellantis extended gains with a 2% jump on strong vehicle registration data, and TIM jumped 2.6% after announcing a €1 billion investment plan through 2027 to expand ICT infrastructure, with Banca Akros reaffirming a “buy” rating and raising its target price to €0.52. On the data front, the Italian services PMI rose to 52.5, beating forecasts and reaching its highest since May, while the composite PMI held at 51.7, signaling modest Q3 growth.