Piazza Affari: A record-breaking 2023 and optimism for the future

5 MINUTE READ

02 MAY 2024

2023 marked an exceptional year for the Italian Stock Exchange, with the main index, the Ftse Mib, which recorded an increase of 28.03%, reaching the highest levels of the last fifteen years and positioning itself at the top of the performances among the main stock market indices. European market. In comparison, the Paris index grew by 16.5%, while the Frankfurt index saw an increase of 20.3%. This placed the FTSE MIB just behind the Nasdaq, which had an impressive 43.4% gain thanks to the booming technology sector. Other significant indicators, such as the S&P 500 and Tokyo's Nikkei 225, also reported robust gains, of 24.2% and 27.96%, respectively.

The triumph of Piazza Affari was mainly supported by some companies whose shares saw dizzying increases. Unicredit led the charge with an astonishing +83.39%, followed closely by Leonardo with an increase of 82.20% and Stellantis, which recorded an increase of 60.17%. The banking sector also showed a strong recovery with Banca Mps and BPER Banca, both growing by over 57%.

Despite these triumphs, not all the news has been positive. Some companies such as Italgas, Erg, and Tenaris showed slight losses. The most striking case was that of Diasorin, with a drop of 29%, a situation that reflects post-pandemic adjustments and a reduction in margins expected for FinecoBank, which suffered a drop of 13.66%. However, these exceptions did not overshadow the overall positive performance of the Italian stock market, which did not see significant losses in other securities.

In addition to impressive results in terms of stock gains, the Italian Stock Exchange has also achieved significant milestones in terms of market size and growth. The market capitalization grew by 5.5% compared to 2022, reaching 761 billion euros. The number of listed companies increased, from 414 to 429, a sign of an expanding market and a climate of confidence among investors.

Looking ahead, the exceptional performance of 2023 serves not only as a testament to the resilience and dynamism of the Italian market, but also as a foundation for cautious optimism regarding the ability of Piazza Affari to maintain its upward trajectory in a global economic context that continues to present challenges and opportunities. With a keen eye on global dynamics and internal innovation, the Italian stock market positions itself as a key player in the European financial landscape, ready to navigate future uncertainties with the same determination shown this year.