Italy

Financial News

European Stocks Advance for First Week in Three as Earnings Beat Estimates European stocks rebounded from a one- month low as better-than-expected earnings at companies from Swiss Reinsurance Co. to Delhaize Group SA fed investors’ expectations a seven-month rally will go on.

Prysmian Forecasts `Strong' Fourth Quarter as Subsea Cable Orders Advance Prysmian SpA, the world’s second- biggest cable maker, expects a “strong” fourth quarter as orders rise at its subsea division.

Italian Stocks Erase Gains; Buzzi, Pirelli, Prysmian, Telecom Italia Move Italy’s benchmark FTSE MIB Index retreated for the first time in three days, losing 32.60, or 0.1 percent, to 22,549.64 in Milan. The gauge rose 2.2 percent this week.

Italy Clears $13 Billion Infrastructure Projects Including Sicily Bridge Italy approved 8.8 billion euros ($13.1 billion) in “strategic infrastructure” investments, including funds for a bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, and agreed to raise airport fees.

Generali to Pay a Dividend for 2009 After Quarterly Profit Rose, CEO Says Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Europe’s third-biggest insurer, will pay a dividend on 2009 earnings, after it almost doubled its third-quarter profit.

Fiat's Marchionne Says He'll Consider Auto Unit IPO `When It's Right Time' Fiat SpA, Italy’s largest manufacturer, said it will consider selling shares in its auto making unit.

News Corp. Unit to Start Free-to-Air Digital Television Channel in Italy Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. will start broadcasting a free-to-air digital terrestrial channel in Italy on Dec. 1, amid mounting competition with Mediaset SpA.

OECD Indicator Signals Recovery Gaining Strength in Italy, France, Britain The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said its leading economic indicator showed strong signals of recovery of the world’s biggest economies.

Airport Operators Permitted by Government to Raise Fees From January 2010 The Italian government infrastructure committee CIPE approved a plan to allow airport operators to raise fees beginning next year in return for a commitment to invest in facilities.

Italian Light-Truck Sales Dropped 14% in October, Led by Decline at Fiat Light-truck sales in Italy fell 14 percent in October to 16,475 vehicles, industry group UNRAE said in a statement today.

General News

Berlusconi to Keep Crucifixes in Classrooms in Defiance of EU Court Ruling Italy will ignore an “unreal” European court ruling that bans crucifixes from state-run schools as it appeals the decision, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.

Italy Says Local Terror Cells Now Focused on Executing Domestic Attacks Islamic terrorist cells in Italy have turned their focus to planning local attacks from recruiting and fund-raising, according to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni.

Global-Warming Treaty May Face Full Year's Delay as Nations `Play Games' The deadline for 192 countries to complete a new global-warming accord may slip by as much as one year, as negotiators hold back on pledges to slash emissions or pay financial aid to poor nations.

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