Milan bourse falls by 2.8% as MPS bank plunges 8%

(ANSA) - Milan, December 15 - Prices on Italy's main financial market tumbled Monday after share values of MPS and other major banks plunged in what analysts said was a frenzy of speculation.
    The FTSE Mib fell by 2.8% to close at 18.078 points.
    Shares in troubled Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank fell by as much as 8% while shares in Intesa SanPaolo and UniCredit lost more than 4%.
    Among the few companies showing an increase in share price were Tod's, up 1.5%, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which rose 0.55% while Saipem was up by 1.16%.
    On Friday, the European Central Bank (ECB) gave MPS preliminary approval for its capital plan amid media reports of Chinese interest in investing in the Tuscan bank.