imageMILAN: Shares in Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena were volatile in early trade on Thursday after the bank said the treasury would keep a 4 percent stake in the lender until the end of the year.

The bank, which is due to launch a 3 billion euro capital increase to fill a shortfall uncovered by a Europe-wide health check of the sector, also said late on Wednesday it would launch a reverse stock split giving shareholders 1 new share for every 20 shares held.

The stock opened up more than 1 percent but had pared gains by 0810 GMT, having lost nearly 10 percent earlier this week. Broker ICBPI said the cash call would be very dilutive for existing shareholders.

Copyright Reuters, 2015

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