The following factors could affect Italian markets on Thursday.
Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).
POLITICS
Italian Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni said on Wednesday he was confident that Italy would be able to find alternative funding measures so that it could avoid a politically sensitive increase in sales tax scheduled in October.
ECONOMY
National statistics institute ISTAT releases July retail sales data on Thursday (0800 GMT).
DEBT
Italy's Treasury offers 8.5 billion euros in six-month bills on Thursday. (1000 GMT)
COMPANIES
FIAT
Chrysler Group LLC's second-largest shareholder, a union healthcare trust fund, has tapped Deutsche Bank for advice on how to exit its 41.5 percent stake in No. 3 U.S. automaker, according to two people familiar with the matter.
TELECOM ITALIA
Telecom Italia's chairman, its independent directors and Italian politicians spoke out on Wednesday against suspected plans by top shareholder Telefonica to sell some of the company's most valued assets once it has won control.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano met with the chairman of Telecom Italia Franco Bernabe on Wednesday, the office of the President said in a note.
Telefonica Brasils control of smaller rival TIM Participações could concentrate too much pricing and market power in one player and "is not welcome," Marcelo Bechara, a board member at Brazilian telecommunications industry regulator Anatel, said on Wednesday.
The group's chairman Franco Bernabe attends a conference on Thursday on Italian digital connection (0730 GMT)
PIRELLI, CAMFIN
Italy's market watchdog Consob said on Wednesday it had raised the price bidders were making for Camfin, the holding company that controls tyremaker Pirelli. In a statement, Consob said it had redetermined the price of the bid, raising it to 0.83 euros from 0.80 euros.
BANCA CARIGE
The bank is expected to hold a board meeting on Thursday on results of the Bank of Italy's inspection.
ALITALIA
* Italy is working on a temporary financial agreement with banks to keep struggling carrier Alitalia afloat, daily Il Sole 24 Ore quoted Industry Minister Flavio Zanonato as saying.
Five years after Alitalia was rescued from bankruptcy, the options for the troubled Italian airline appear to be few: convince top shareholder Air France-KLM to support its new strategy or shut up shop.
The carrier holds a board meeting on Thursday.
* ENI
Kazakhstan's giant offshore oilfield Kashagan has halted production for up to four days after an accident, but this will not delay the start of commercial output set for October, Kazakh Oil & Gas Minister said on Thursday.
For more details on today's events please see the full agenda in Italian.
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