Italy's economy grew 1.0% in the second quarter of the year from the previous three months, preliminary data showed on Friday, a stronger-than-expected reading and despite the headwinds created by the war in Ukraine. On a year-on-year basis, second quarter gross domestic product in the euro zone's third largest economy rose 4.6%, ISTAT said.

Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a rise of 0.3% quarter-on-quarter and 3.7% year-on-year. Friday's data followed quarterly growth of 0.1% in the first three months of the year and a jump of 6.2% against the same period a year ago. It was the sixth consecutive quarter of growth in Italy.