Heavy sales in Piazza Affari in the wake of the pronounced weakness of Wall Street. Among the sectors most affected by sales are energy and financials. Among the big banks in Piazza Affari, the worst one hour after closing is Intesa Sanpaolo with -2.5% to 2.342 euros; bad also Bper at -2.8% and Unicredit -2%. Banco BPM is holding on instead (-0.4%) on which rumors related to possible M&A developments continue to chase. As reported today by various press organs, the CEO Giuseppe Castagna would have updated the Board of Directors on M&A matters, presenting the merger with Bper as the main option. However, the agreement with the Emilian institute does not appear easy with Cimbri, CEO of Unipol (Bper’s main shareholder) who has interrupted negotiations with Castagna and at the moment Bper appears to be committed to consolidating the recent acquisition of branches and changing the board.