Italy - Factors to watch on Jan. 24

The following factors could affect Italian markets on Friday.

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

For a complete list of diary events in Italy please click on IT/DIA.

POLITICS

Italy's interior minister said on Thursday a Libyan man detained under an international war crimes arrest warrant and then unexpectedly released had been swiftly repatriated because of his "social dangerousness".

DEBT

Treasury announces sale of 6-month BOT bills, with relative amounts to be auctioned on Jan. 29.

COMPANIES

(*) MONTE PASCHI BMPS.MI, MEDIOBANCA MDBI.MI

The bailed-out Tuscan lender said on Friday it was launching a 13.3 billion euro all-share buyout offer for Mediobanca, in the latest surprise twist of a complex Italian banking saga.

UNICREDIT CRDI.MI, BANCO BPM BAMI.MI

CEO UniCredit Andrea Orcel told Italian state TV on Thursday a tie-up with BPM would lift his bank's market share in Italy to 15% from the current 9%, which is low, while allowing BPM investors to benefit from all that UniCredit has achieved over the past three years.

Orcel also said that UniCredit wanted to speak with the new German government after next month's elections and explain the advantages of a tie-up with Commerzbank CBKG.DE and gain their support for a deal.

(*) Commerzbank chief Bettina Orlopp shot down an invitation from Orcel to hold informal talks about a potential tie-up between the two banks, and has instead insisted on receiving a written proposal before engaging, the FT reported citing people familiar with the situation.

(*) GENERALI GASI.MI, NATIXIS

Two members of the opposition 5 Star Movement said they filed a question to the Economy Minister to clarify the government's position on the asset management deal announced by Generali and Natixis and possible risks for savings held by Italians, Il Sole 24 Ore reported.

(*) TELECOMS

The head of FiberCop Luigi Ferraris has stepped down after less than seven months at the helm of the Italian fibre optic grid operator controlled by U.S. fund KKR KKR.N, the company said.

INTERMONTE PARTNERS SIM INTM.MI

Banca Generali BGN.MI ends full voluntary takeover offer on Intermonte Partners SIM ordinary shares (started on Dec. 23).

DIARY

Assogestioni expected to release December fund flows data (1000 GMT).

Rome, President Sergio Mattarella meets Panama President Jose Raul Mulino Quintero (0845 GMT).

Rome, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica (1415 GMT).

Rome, opening ceremony of the Court of Cassation's judicial year with President Sergio Mattarella, Chamber of Deputies Speaker Lorenzo Fontana (1000 GMT).

Rome, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso convenes meeting on the fashion sector with representatives of the main trade associations and trade unions (1000 GMT).

Arona, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti attends meeting (1945 GMT).

Turin, Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin attends "EU-Italy Energy Days" symposium (0830 GMT).

Vatican City, Pope Francis receives Malta President Myriam Spiteri Debono (0800 GMT).

((Milan newsroom, e-mail: reutersitaly@thomsonreuters.com))

For Italian market data and news, click on codes in
brackets:

20 biggest gainers (in percentage).............PG.MI

20 biggest losers (in percentage)..............PL.MI

FTSE IT allshare index .FTITLMS

FTSE Mib index........ .FTMIB

FTSE Allstars index... .FTSTAR

FTSE Mid Cap index.... .FTITMC

Block trades.......... .BLK.MI

Stories on Italy...... IT-LEN

For pan-European market data and news, click on codes in
brackets:

European Equities speed guide...................EUR/EQUITY

FTSEurofirst 300 index...............................FTEU3

DJ STOXX index.......................................STOXX

Top 10 STOXX sectors............................PGL.STOXXS

Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors.......................PGL.STOXXES

Top 10 Eurofirst 300 sectors....................PGL.FTEU3S

Top 25 European pct gainers........................PG.PEUR

Top 25 European pct losers.........................PL.PEUR

Main stock markets:

Dow Jones................DJI Wall Street report ......N

Nikkei 225..............N225 Tokyo report.............T

FTSE 100................FTSE London report............L

Xetra DAX..............GDAXI Frankfurt market stories.F

CAC-40..................FCHI Paris market stories....PA

World Indices.....................................0#.INDEX

Reuters survey of world bourse outlook.........EQUITYPOLL1

Western European IPO diary..........................WEUIPO

European Asset Allocation........................EUR/ASSET

Reuters News at a Glance: Equities...............TOP/EQE

Main currency report:...............................FRX/