(Alliance News) - Stock markets on Monday confirmed the good performance seen since the bell rang in the aftermath of the elections in France. The far right is on the verge of taking power in the country, never so close to ruling. The Rassemblement National achieved an unprecedented result in the first round of legislative elections, leading the race in hundreds of constituencies. Ahead of next Sunday's second round, the party is moving closer to the absolute majority needed to govern.

The party of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, in coalition with Eric Ciotti's Républicains, reached 33.1 percent of the vote according to Ifop, which predicts between 240 and 270 seats for the far right, with the absolute majority set at 289 seats. According to Elabe - a polling institute - the projection ranges between 260 and 310 seats, indicating the possibility of exceeding the absolute majority threshold.

The FTSE Mib continues up 1.2 percent to 33,545.32 points.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is advancing 0.4 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is up 1.8 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is marking a 0.6 percent green.

Among the smaller listings, the Mid-Cap is moving up 0.6 percent to 47,111.35, the Small-Cap is advancing 0.7 percent to 28,874.77, while Italy Growth is advancing 0.2 percent to 8,127.42.

On the Mib--among the few bearish ones--the tail end of the list is for Prysmian, which gives up 1.3 percent following up on the 0.7 percent red on the eve.

The good session in the banking sector continues, with Banca Monte dei Paschi advancing 4.5 percent to EUR4.58 per share, following a 0.9 percent green on Friday evening.

Strength also on BPER Banca, which moves up 4.3%, rearing its head after two sessions closed with bearish candles.

For UniCredit, on the other hand, the rise is 3.1%, on the heels of Friday's gain, albeit a modest 0.1%.

Banca Mediolanum - up 2.1% - reported Friday that it had purchased 333,000 of its own ordinary shares between June 24 and June 28. The shares were taken over at an average price per share of EUR10.5582, for a total value of EUR3.5 million.

Terna, on the other hand, advances 1.1 percent. Of note, Goldman Sachs cut the targte price to EUR7.60 from EUR7.95 per share, with the recommendation changed to 'sell' from 'neutral'.

Tenaris--in fractional green--reported the purchase of 4.6 million shares that took place between June 24 and June 28. The shares were taken over at an average price of EUR14.3237 for a total value of EUR66.1 million.

On the Mid-Cap, Banca Ifis -- up 2.4 percent and leading the list -- announced Friday that it had successfully completed the restructuring of a securitization worth EUR1.2 billion involving proprietary factoring receivables.

Fincantieri advances 3.8 percent, following 0.2 percent red in the previous session.

Moltiply Group, on the other hand, advances 2.8 percent. Mavriq--the newly formed institutional brand that brings together the brands of Moltiply Group--on Monday announced the acquisition of Switcho, an Italian platform that searches for and selects the best energy deals with a fully digital business model Specifically, Mavriq signed a binding agreement aimed at acquiring 80 percent of the shares of Switcho Srl, from Marco Tricarico, Redi Vyshka, Francesco Laffi and private investors, including Azimut.

For OVS, on the other hand, the rise is 2.7 percent, after the 5.6 percent red in the previous session.

Juventus Football Club - in the green by 1.9 percent - announced that it has reached an agreement with Aston Villa Football Club for the outright acquisition of the right to the sports performance of the player Douglas Luiz Soares de Paulo for a consideration of EUR50 million, payable in four financial years, plus ancillary charges of EUR1.5 million.

Among the few bearish, d'Amico is giving up 1.5 percent, after three sessions closed with bullish candle in which ga garnered an aggregate 12 percent.

The tail end of the convoy, however, is for Maire Tecnimont, down 2.2 percent. The company announced Monday that NextChem was awarded a feasibility study and a Pre-FEED - Pre Front-End Engineering Design - contract from FertigHy, relying on its proprietary NX Stami Green AmmoniaTM and NX Stami Nitric AcidTM technologies and integrating hydrogen and electrolyzer know-how into an established technology solution.

The FertigHy consortium, formed in 2023, consists of several shareholders covering the entire value chain, including EIT InnoEnergy, RIC Energy, Maire, Siemens Financial Services, InVivo, and Heineken.

On the Small-Cap, Fiera Milano is advancing well, posting a plus 4.7 percent after a 0.3 percent decline in the previous session.

Good purchases also on Newlat, which marks a plus 3.6% to EUR12.70 per share after Friday night's loss of 3.9%.

Sogefi, on the other hand, advances 5.8 percent to EUR3.36 per share, after 1.9 percent green on the eve of the session.

Bastogi is giving up 2.9% to EUR0.4020, on its third session in the red.

Aedes, on the other hand, gives up 1.9 percent to EUR0.2040, also positioning itself in the rear.

Among SMEs, Espe, on the other hand, marks a gain of more than 12%, in its third bullish session.

Arterra, on the other hand, advances 7.3% to EUR2.36 per share, on its sixth session with a bullish candle.

Porto Aviation Group -- flat at EUR4.20 -- announced Friday that it will kick off its ERU300,000 buyback program, which has already been approved by shareholders. The company aims to buy back no more than 35,000 of its own ordinary shares between July 1 and no later than October 5, 2025.

UCapital24 -- down 4.6 percent -- informed that on Friday evening the extraordinary shareholders' meeting unanimously approved the merger of Swisstech Consulting into UCapital24.

In New York on Friday, the Dow closed in the red by 0.1 percent, the Nasdaq gave up 0.7 percent, and the S&P fell 0.4 percent.

In Asia, the Shanghai Composite advanced 0.9 percent, while the Nikkei picked up 0.1 percent. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange, however, remained closed for "Special Administrative Region Foundation Day."

Among currencies, the euro changed hands to USD1.0762 from USD1.0710 in Friday's European stock close while the pound was worth USD1.2674 from USD1.2637 on Friday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is trading at USD85.41 per barrel from USD86.26 per barrel at Friday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,327.48 an ounce from USD2,330.60 on Friday evening.

Monday's economic calendar, from the U.S., coming up on the manufacturing PMI, at 1600 CEST, while two short-dated T-Note auctions will be held, at 1730 CEST.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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