UPDATE 2-Italy scales back plans to sell stake in Poste Adds unions, detail and background By Giuseppe Fonte ROME, May 30 (Reuters) - Italy will retain 51% of Poste Italiane PST.MI , the Treasury told unions on Thursday, scaling back a previous plan to cut the state's stake in the postal service to as low as 35% from 64% currently. The move highlights the government's difficulties in respecting its pledge to use asset sales to rein in Italy's massive public debt.

UPDATE 1-Italy PM says no decision yet on Poste Italiane stake sale Adds background; adds PM quotes at paras 2,5,6 TRENTO, Italy, May 24 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that her government has not yet taken any decision regarding the possible sale of further stakes in Poste Italiane PST.MI , adding that the company would in any case remain under state control.

EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-Antofagasta, Imperial Brands, Sodexo May 17 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies including Antofagasta, Imperial Brands and Sodexo, on Friday. HIGHLIGHTS * Antofagasta Plc ANTO.L : HSBC raises target price to 1,100p from 1,000p * Diploma Plc DPLM.L : Morgan Stanley raises target price to 4,700p from 3,915p * Imperial Brands IMB.L : Jefferies raises target price to 1,850p from 1,710p * OMV AG OMVV.VI : Berenb

UPDATE 2-Italy's Poste sees profit drop after bond-driven gains Adds size of government bond portfolio in paragraph 6 MILAN, May 15 (Reuters) - Operating profit at Poste Italiane PST.MI fell 8% in the first quarter despite slightly higher revenues, due to the sharp gains the postal service pocketed a year ago when it sold some of its Italian government bonds.

BUZZ-Margin pressure is 'larger than expected' for Benelux postal operators, Jefferies says ** Jefferies remains cautious on Benelux postal operators saying weaker than expected Q1 results leads to larger than expected margin pressure ** The broker notes that the sector is facing relatively weaker parcel volumes and expects a mail volume decline in