(Alliance News) - On Thursday, the main European indices are expected to trade without clear momentum and lack a unified direction, according to IG futures, as investor sentiment is shaped by upcoming monetary policy decisions from major central banks.
For the European Central Bank, the ECB-Watch indicator ahead of the December meeting shows that the market assigns a 90% probability to interest rates being held steady, with the deposit rate remaining at 2.00%.
The Bank of England, meanwhile, is expected to cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%, reflecting easing inflationary pressures, while also signaling that further tightening measures may not be imminent.
In Asia, the Bank of Japan is expected this week to raise rates by a quarter point, bringing them to the highest level in three decades, as monetary policymakers contend with persistent inflation and a weak yen.
In the US, President Donald Trump promised Americans an economic boom in his Wednesday address to the nation, blaming his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden for the high level of prices.
The FTSE Mib is indicated fractionally higher or up by 12.5 points after closing Wednesday up 0.3% at 44,099.48 points.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is seen up 0.1% or 5.5 points, Paris' CAC 40 is indicated up 0.1% or 3.6 points, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is expected to be down 0.1% or 25.1 points.
In Milan on Wednesday evening, the Mid-Cap fell 0.9% to 57,709.92, the Small-Cap was slightly negative at 35,929.15, and Italy Growth declined 0.3% to 8,466.78 points.
At Piazza Affari on Wednesday, Italgas, up 0.7%, saw its 'BBB+' rating with a stable outlook confirmed by Fitch.
Saipem, which has launched a new buyback program for up to 20.9 million ordinary shares to be allocated for this year's long-term variable incentive plan, closed up 0.4%.
Recordati also initiated a buyback plan of up to EUR55 million. The stock rose 1.1%.
Leonardo – up 0.3% – signed a contract to supply 12 M-346 F Block 20 multirole aircraft to the Austrian Air Force, as part of an agreement with the Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness.
Banking sector stocks saw buying: Popolare di Sondrio gained 2.9%, BPM 1.8%, and BPER Banca 2.7%.
Moncler and Stellantis, on the other hand, posted losses of 2.3% and 0.8%, respectively. Buzzi closed the basket down 3.6% at EUR51.35 per share.
On the Mid-Cap, Banco di Desio e della Brianza, up 0.5%, participated in the capital increase of Credito Lombardo Veneto, a private institution with offices in Brescia, Sarezzo, and Bergamo, acquiring a 9.81% stake.
Mondadori has chosen to grant full autonomy to its digital division with the establishment of Mondadori Digital, operational from January 1, 2026, and wholly owned by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. Mondadori Digital will start with a combined base of about 125 million followers in Italy and abroad and more than 33 million unique monthly users. The stock closed up 1.0%.
Riello returns to Italian control thanks to its acquisition by Ariston Group, with a daily gain of 2.9% to EUR4.45 per share, following an agreement with US-based Carrier Global Corporation to purchase 100% of the group, with an enterprise value of EUR289 million.
De' Longhi – down 2.0% – announced its inclusion in the STOXX Europe 600 index, effective from the opening of trading on Monday, December 22.
Tinexta made changes to its governance with the appointment of a new board of directors, while the stock rose 0.1%.
On the Small-Cap, Antares Vision announced that Crane NXT Inspection and Tracking Technologies, the designated buyer by Crane NXT, has completed the acquisition of 32.4% of fully diluted capital, equal to 25.9% of voting rights, acquiring about 16.9 million shares from Regolo and 6.6 million shares from Sargas at EUR5.00 each, for a total value of EUR117.3 million.
The threshold for a mandatory takeover bid and related delisting has been exceeded. Antares shares rose 0.4%.
OPS eCom completed the full acquisition of two transport companies, SCL and KCT: the stock jumped 12%.
SS Lazio's presence at the Nasdaq "closing bell" ceremony goes beyond a symbolic gesture, as it is seen as a move to position and strengthen the brand internationally. The stock, which hit a 52-week high at EUR1.20 per share, closed up 7.0%.
EPH – up 2.9% – reported that RONA Limited Company has fully subscribed and paid up, through a cash contribution, the remaining portion of the capital increase.
Among SMEs, Circle reported that its subsidiary eXyond has made available, through the Public Administration Electronic Marketplace, to a major motorway company the new "FCD metadata service – regional road traffic monitoring" for a duration of 24 months. The stock fell 2.0%.
ErreDue signed a EUR1.5 million agreement with Pacella Luxury Real Estate for the supply of a 1 MW green hydrogen production plant, to be built at the Torrenieri-Montalcino site in the province of Siena. The stock ended up 3.0%.
eVISO – up 1.5% – reported that the transition of the MGP from hourly block purchases to 15-minute blocks has resulted in deviations of over ±EUR15/MWh in the cost of purchasing electricity on the national market.
FAE Technology completed the first closing worth EUR1.1 million for the acquisition of the entire share capital of Kayser Italia. A second closing will see a payment of EUR570,000 plus a possible earn-out of up to EUR300,000; after 18 months from the first closing, a deferred cash payment of EUR1.1 million is expected. The stock gained 4.8%.
Giocamondo Study – up 5.8% – closed the fiscal year as of September 30 with a profit of EUR1.3 million, up 5.0% from the previous year. The company has proposed a dividend distribution of EUR0.06 per share.
In New York, the Dow Jones lost 0.5%, the Nasdaq fell 1.8%, and the S&P 500 dropped 1.2%.
In Asia, the Nikkei closed down 1.0%, the Shanghai Composite finished up 0.2%, while the Hang Seng lost 0.1%.
On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1742 from USD1.1749 at Wednesday's equity close, while the pound is at USD1.3368 from USD1.3392 last night.
Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD60.17 per barrel from USD59.82 per barrel on Wednesday, while gold is at USD4,334.80 an ounce from USD4,326.25 an ounce on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday's economic calendar, at 1100 CET the Eurozone construction data is due, while at 1300 CET the Bank of England's interest rate decision will be released.
At 1415 CET, the ECB will issue statements on monetary policy and interest rates.
From 1430 CET, focus will shift to the US labor market, while at 1445 CET the ECB will hold a press conference. At 2230 CET, the Fed's balance sheet will be released in the US.
Sesa's half-year results are expected at Piazza Affari.
By Antonio Di Giorgio, Alliance News Reporter
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