NORDIC WAVE – The Italian Stock Exchange saw a sharp decline Friday, with the Milan-based bourse dropping 6.53% and the FTSE Italia All-Share falling 6.44% to 36,716 points.
The FTSE MIB index has now fallen in eight of the last nine sessions, driven by fears over the economic impact of U.S. tariffs.
Italy’s vulnerability stems from slow economic growth and heavy reliance on exports, with 10% of its exports destined for the U.S. Sectors like food, wine, automaker Stellantis, and financial services have been hit hard.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sought to calm investors, calling the reaction to the tariffs exaggerated. “I am obviously concerned… but I do not see it as the catastrophe I have been hearing about,” she said, urging caution against “scaremongering.”
