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.

COMPANIES

FINCANTIERI FCT.MI

The Italian shipbuilder's Chief Executive Pierroberto Folgiero, said on Thursday that any future M&A would be "opportunistic," and not at the heart of the company's strategy.

(*) AVIO AVI.MI

The European launcher Ariane 6 successfully completed its flight from French Guiana on Thursday, placing into orbit 32 low earth orbit satellites for Amazon AMZN.O

For the first time, the rocket used four solid-propellant boosters, developed by Europropulsion – a joint venture between Avio and France's Ariane. Avio also contributed to the launcher with the production of the liquid oxygen turbo pump for the engine.

(*) GENERALI GASI.MI

Citigroup on Friday resumed coverage of the Italian insurer with a 'buy' rating and a target price of 43.4 euros.

(*) SNAM SRG.MI

Several companies, including A2A A2.MI and Edison EDNn.MI, and investment funds are looking to invest in the gas grid group's biomethane subsidiary Bioenerys, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Friday. It said the unit could be worth some 500 million euros.

DIARY

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers opening address at the second Italy–Africa Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (1700 GMT).

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto attend the 62nd edition of the Munich Security Conference (to February 15).

((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/