The FTSE MIB edged higher to around 52,800 on Thursday, snapping a two-day decline and outperforming most of its regional peers. Lower US Treasury yields following the US Treasury’s decision to at least double buyback operations for long-dated bonds provided a supportive backdrop for risk assets. Financial stocks mostly traded in positive territory, with UniCredit rising 1%, Intesa Sanpaolo gaining 0.8% and Generali adding 0.7%. Monte dei Paschi di Siena also advanced 0.7% as its board prepared to discuss defensive options against Intesa Sanpaolo’s €36 billion takeover bid. Autos also gained, with Ferrari up about 1% and Stellantis rising around 0.4%, tracking a broader recovery in European automakers. Meanwhile, investors remained cautious amid geopolitical uncertainty, as negotiations to resolve the US-Iran conflict remained deadlocked and the Trump administration pursued intensified economic pressure on Tehran.