Italian stocks - Factors to watch on March 27

The following factors could affect Italian markets on Tuesday.

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

UNICREDIT

The bank will release its fourth quarter results on Tuesday.

FONDARIA SAI, PREMAFIN, UNIPOL

Two Italian private equity funds have sent a letter to Fondiaria-SAI asking for clarification on a capital increase approved by the troubled insurer, as the funds press ahead with a bid rivalling an earlier offer launched by peer Unipol to save Fondiaria.

Insurance sector regulator Isvap has invited Fondiaria to hold a shareholder meeting and approve its planned capital increase without delay, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Tuesday.

BANCA POPOLARE MILANO

The bank's management board is expected to approve on Tuesday a provision for bondholders claiming losses on their investments in a 2009/13 convertible bond, Il Sole 24 Ore said without naming its sources.

FINMECCANICA

Hitachi could be close to buy 50 percent of AnsaldoBreda unit in a deal which would also see the Japanese group take a stake in Ansaldo STS, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Tuesday without naming its sources. It added Cassa Depositi e Prestiti may also take a stake in Ansaldo STS.

Finmeccanica will report its full-year results on Tuesday.

IMPREGILO

Impregilo, the Italian builder at the centre of a battle for control, is in talks to find partners or buyers for its engineering units Fisia Italimpianti and Fisia Babcock, chief executive Alberto Rubegni said on Monday.

PRYSMIAN

The group's CEO said on Monday the first quarter will not be worse than the same period last year.

* SARAS

Nomura starts Saras with buy

* ERG

Nomura starts Erg with reduce

* MAIRE TECNIMONT

Nomura cuts Maire Tecnimont price target to 0.57 euros from 1 euros; rating reduce.

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

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

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

FTSE IT allshare index

FTSE Mib index........

FTSE Allstars index...

FTSE Mid Cap index....

Block trades..........

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

For pan-European market data and news, click on codes in brackets: European Equities speed guide................... FTSEurofirst 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX index...................................... Top 10 STOXX sectors........................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... Top 10 Eurofirst 300 sectors................... Top 25 European pct gainers....................... Top 25 European pct losers........................ Main stock markets: Dow Jones............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225............. Tokyo report............ FTSE 100............... London report........... Xetra DAX............. Frankfurt market stories CAC-40................. Paris market stories... World Indices..................................... Reuters survey of world bourse outlook......... Western European IPO diary.......................... European Asset Allocation........................ Reuters News at a Glance: Equities............... Main currency report:...............................