Foreign News: China's central bank buys into Italian banks 08 July 2015 3:38PM Banking Day staff The Central Bank of China is extending portfolio investments in banks in Italy. Reuters reports the PBOC has bought two percent stakes in lenders UniCredit and Monte dei Paschi di Siena. It already owns two percent of Italian banks Intesa Sanpaolo and Mediobanca, and has previously invested in power grid operator Terna, oil major Eni, insurer Generali and car maker Fiat Chrysler.