
The agency expects higher-than-estimated growth in 2026 driven by net exports and Ngeu stimulus
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Standard & Poor's confirmed Italy's sovereign ratings at 'BBB+/A-2' with a positive outlook, indicating a stable assessment of the country's ability to pay.
Standard & Poor's confirms Italy's ratings of "BBB+/A-2", with a positive outlook. We read it in a note.
Standard & Poor, in a note, forecasts that in 2026 "Italy's economic growth will exceed previous estimates, driven by a favorable external context for net exports (excluding energy) and the continuation of the stimuli linked to the Ngeu programme: for the period 2027-2029, growth should remain at modest but stable levels". In the absence of a positive boost to productivity, structural challenges to economic growth will remain, including aging and the potential shrinkage of the working-age population, although the labor market continues to prove resilient.

S&P Global Ratings affirmed Italy's sovereign ratings at 'BBB+/A-2' with a positive outlook, citing a gradual improvement in the external position, current account surplus and a slow reduction in public debt by 2028, while warning that a significant deterioration in the economy, external position or budget could lead to a rating downgrade.

Nvidia closes a difficult session on the Nasdaq with a fall of 2.01% after the resignation of CEO Jensen Huang over an extramarital affairs scandal. The stock lost 12.75% in the week, burning more than $500 billion in stock market value.

Last day of the week without precise direction on the European stock markets, with London up 0.3%, Madrid +0.2%, Milan and Paris +0.1%, Amsterdam flat and Frankfurt -0.2%. 10-year BTP-Bund spread at 104 basis points, yield at 4.41%, euro at 1.102 against the dollar. Gas down in Amsterdam, oil uncertain at 88.5 dollars. In Piazza Affari sales on Fincantieri (-4.2%), Unipol (-1.2%) and Generali (-1%); increases for Eni (+1.9%), Amplifon (+2.4%), Banca Generali (+2.9%) and Brunello Cucinelli (+3.2%).

Fausto Bianchi, president of Small Industry and vice-president of Confindustria, proposes at the XXII annual Forum a four-year 10/100 Pact to encourage the growth of small Italian businesses with 10-100 employees. According to the study presented, the transition to the 50-249 employee range would increase productivity by 5.5% in industry, 6.1% in manufacturing and 4.3% in the entire economy, with a similar increase in GDP and wages. Among the requests: simple rules, investments, capital and finance, as well as a tool dedicated to innovation and incentives for capital strengthening.

An international Edenred-Opinium study on 17,450 workers and 8,920 HR managers in 27 countries assigns Italy a joy index of 59 points out of 100, four below the global average of 63. Italy precedes only Greece, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Japan. He leads India with 73 runs.

Nxtplay Capital, an investment platform led by Thibaut Courtois and Gonzalo Vila, has presented an offer to acquire 100% of Reggiana. The project focuses on sporting ambition, ties with the Reggio Emilia community and youth development.