
Italian Plot Twist May Finally Insulate Finance From Politics
The solution: Mediobanca on Monday launched an offer for wealth manager Banca Generali SpA worth €6.3 billion ($7.2 billion), to be paid for with its 13% stake in Generali. That looks like a good deal for fans of clear, focused businesses, unencumbered by a big financial stake in another group. However, it potentially creates other headaches, not least of which is leaving Monte Paschi once again without a merger partner – frustrating the government's efforts to offload its stake in Italian banking's thrice-rescued problem child.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish on Darden Restaurants Stock?
Orlando, Florida-based Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) owns and operates full-service restaurants. With a market cap of $24.2 billion, the company owns and operates a variety of seafood and Italian restaurants under a multitude of brand names, serving customers in the U.S. and Canada. Shares of this leading full-service restaurant operator have considerably outperformed the broader market over the past year. DRI has gained 43.7% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 16.4%. In 2025, DRI stock is up 11.1%, surpassing the SPX's 9.7% rise on a YTD basis. More News from Barchart Lyft Generates Huge FCF Margins - LYFT Stock Is Too Cheap Trade the Warren Buffett Rally in UnitedHealth Stock With This High-Reward, Low-Risk Options Strategy Powell, Trump Talks and Other Can't Miss Items this Week Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. Zooming in further, DRI's outperformance is also apparent compared to the AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF (EATZ). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 13% over the past year. Moreover, DRI's low double-digit returns on a YTD basis outshine the ETF's 1.9% gains over the same time frame. On Jun. 20, DRI shares closed up more than 1% after reporting its Q4 results. Its adjusted EPS of $2.98 surpassed Wall Street expectations of $2.96. The company's revenue was $3.3 billion, matching Wall Street forecasts. DRI expects full-year adjusted EPS to be $10.50 to $10.70. For fiscal 2026, ending in May 2026, analysts expect DRI's EPS to grow 11.3% to $10.63 on a diluted basis. The company's earnings surprise history is disappointing. It missed the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while beating the forecast on another occasion. Among the 28 analysts covering DRI stock, the consensus is a 'Moderate Buy.' That's based on 16 'Strong Buy' ratings, two 'Moderate Buys,' and 10 'Holds.' This configuration is less bearish than three months ago, with one analyst suggesting a 'Moderate Sell.' On Jul. 31, Barclays PLC (BCS) analyst Jeff Bernstein maintained a 'Buy' rating on DRI and set a price target of $255, the Street-high price target, implying a potential upside of 23% from current levels. The mean price target of $234.75 represents a 13.2% premium to DRI's current price levels. On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio

New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Olive Garden brings back beloved menu special — and you get it unlimited, for a cheap price
Olive Garden's fan-favorite menu item, Never Ending Pasta Bowl, is back for a limited time — and at a cheap price. In a time when food prices seem to be constantly rising, Olive Garden is doing its customers a favor by not only bringing back its beloved unlimited pasta promotion — starting Monday, Aug. 25 — the restaurant is also keeping its $13.99 price the same. Reportedly, menu prices at restaurants have increased more than 30% over the past five years, according to the National Restaurant Association — yet the restaurant chain is trying to win over customers by keeping this item's price on the lower side. Advertisement The chain noted on X that prices may vary by location, yet this is the fourth consecutive year the limited promo is being offered at its reasonable price. In case you've been living under a rock, the Never Ending Pasta Bowl, which first debuted in the 1990s, features unlimited pasta, plus unlimited soup or salad and endless breadsticks. Since many people don't like change — Olive Garden is also appeasing fans by keeping many of their classic pasta and sauce combos but spicing things up by throwing in a new Spicy Three-Meat Sauce. Advertisement From Aug. 25 through Nov. 16, customers will be able to mix and match up to 96 possible combinations for their Never Ending Pasta Bowl — talk about really making it your own. 3 The Never Ending Pasta Bowl features unlimited pasta, plus unlimited soup or salad and endless breadsticks. Olive Garden Patrons can also get endless toppings for an additional $4.99, including crispy chicken fritta, meatballs and Italian sausage. Loyal customers who are part of Olive Garden's eClub — yes, that's a thing — can get in on the action early, with access to the beloved pasta bowl starting an entire week early, Monday, Aug. 18. Advertisement 3 Olive Garden's fan-favorite Never Ending Pasta Bowl is making a comeback at the same price of $13.99 starting Monday, Aug. 25. Christopher Sadowski Fans are obviously over the moon excited about this exciting pasta news. 'Holy smokes that is literally a deal!! Coming thru next Monday!' one person said on X. 'See me there every day until it's gone thank you,' another said. Advertisement 'I'll be there tonight for early access of this!' someone declared. 3 From Aug. 25 through Nov. 16, guests will be able to mix and match up to 96 possible combinations for their Never Ending Pasta Bowl. Christopher Sadowski Despite this good news, shockingly, back in April, Olive Garden lost its spot as the top US casual dining restaurant for seven consecutive years to Texas Roadhouse. Following the two chains are Chili's, Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
Gen Z Woman Leaves LA After 15 Years, Buys 17-Room Italian House for $31K
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Generation Z Canadian expat has swapped Los Angeles for a medieval Sicilian village after snapping up a €27,000 ($31,000) house with 17 rooms and a castle view. Kiki Leigh, 28, had lived in Los Angeles for nearly 15 years before stumbling across a TikTok video that changed her life. From TikTok Scroll to Italian Castle Views The clip featured Sicily, and its reputation for affordable real estate, and, within a week, Leigh was on a plane to the Italian island. "I bought the property in June 2024 after seeing a TikTok video of cheap homes for sale in Sicily," Leigh told Newsweek. "I booked a trip about a week later and, soon after, I was in Mussomeli looking at homes." Nestled in the heart of Sicily, Mussomeli is a historic village known for its medieval castle and breathtaking countryside views—a far cry from the bustling streets of Los Angeles. From left: A view from Kiki Leigh's Sicilian home; and the poster poses for the camera. From left: A view from Kiki Leigh's Sicilian home; and the poster poses for the camera. @ Renovating a 17-Room Sicilian House The house, which cost Leigh just €27,000, spans 17 rooms. While the structure is sound, the property requires a significant face-lift. Renovations began in March 2025 and are expected to take eight months. "The home needs roughly €140,000 of work," Leigh said. "The house I'm creating is my dream home, so I will be keeping it and living there full time when it's complete this fall." A Tale of Two Housing Markets While the 17-room house needs a lot of work, the price tag is a far cry from real estate prices in North America. Property company Redfin says the median sale price in July 2025 was about $652 per square foot, or roughly €6,200 per square meter. By contrast, data from shows the average asking price across the Sicily in June 2025 was just €1,167 ($1,362) per square meter. Prices range from €682/m² ($796/m²) in Caltanissetta, where Mussomeli is located, to €1,294/m² ($1,510/m²) in Palermo. That means homes in Los Angeles cost about five times more than the Sicilian regional average—and nearly 11 times more than in Mussomeli. From left: The front door is seen from inside the home; and a view from a balcony. From left: The front door is seen from inside the home; and a view from a balcony. @ Foreign Buyers Are Flocking to Sicily Sicily has become a hotspot for international buyers drawn to its cheap homes, warm climate, and rich cultural history. Many towns, including Mussomeli, have run "€1 home" schemes in recent years to combat depopulation, but even traditionally priced properties offer remarkable value compared to North American or Northern European markets. For Leigh, the move is not just about cost savings but also about lifestyle. "This is the house I've always dreamed of," she said. "It's not an investment to flip; it's where I want to live." A New Life in the Mediterranean Once renovations are finished this fall, Leigh will leave behind the high rents and traffic of Los Angeles for a slower-paced life in Sicily, surrounded by history, food, and sunshine. She shared her story on TikTok, showing off the home just four months into renovations with its hundreds of years of history and incredible number of rooms. "It's still not finished, but it's finally starting to feel like a home, not just a wild idea," Leigh said on TikTok. With thousands of followers, she has been sharing her journey on TikTok where she hopes to inspire others, just like she was inspired on TikTok.



