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Italian equities

finish higher

MILAN: Milan shares finally shook off worries over the outcome of the general election and turned to the higher move by domestic bonds and the lira for inspiration, and slowly edged up throughout quiet afternoon trading.

Trading was still generally lacklustre with many foreign investors still keeping a low profile ahead of the April 21 election, but stocks have been so weak recently they were ready for a technical bounce, dealers said.

The all-share Mibtel index ended 0.61 percent firmer at 9,341, while the Mib30 index of Italy's top stocks rose 0.79 percent to 13,708.

Fiat firmed to closed up 1.95 percent at 5,067 lire, after news late Monday that group January-February sales were up 12 percent and European car sales were up 19.8 percent and industrial vehicles up 13.1 percent, vs same period in 1995.

STET shares ended up 1.25 percent at 4,390 lire after it said that it expected to report net profit for 1995 of over 2.4 trillion lire, some 500 billion lire up on 1994.

Montedison firmed on reports that it was to sell its stake in Eridania Beghin-Say but then dipped after the group denied to comment and analysts thought a sale unlikely.-Reuter