Future liabilities; Unipol's accounts good

(Alliance News) - European stock markets are set to open lower Friday, pausing after rising to record highs in the previous session.

Traders also continue to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs on European growth after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in that regard. Among economic news, wholesale prices in Germany rose at their fastest pace in more than 18 months.

In corporate news, Unipol's board of directors on Friday announced that it had analyzed preliminary results as of December 31, 2024, closing with a consolidated net profit of EUR1.12 billion million compared to EUR1.06 billion in 2023. The board proposed a dividend of EUR0.85 per share -- equal to a dividend yield of 6.2 percent -- compared to EUR0.38 in the previous year.

Thus, the FTSE Mib -- after closing Thursday in the green by 0.8 percent to 37,908.05 -- is giving up 52.50 points.

Among the smaller listings last night, the Mid-Cap gained 1.1 percent to 50,835.38, the Small-Cap finished up 1.4 percent to 29,083.21, and Italy Growth closed 0.1 percent in the red at 7,809.64.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 -- the only bullish one -- is advancing 7.30 points, the CAC 40 in Paris is giving up 4.60 points, and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt is giving up 87.50 points.

Returning to Milan last night on the highest-capitalization list, Moncler -- up 9.5 percent -- reported at the close of trading that it ended 2024 with group net income of EUR639.6 million, up 5.0 percent from EUR611.9 million as of December 31, 2023.

During the period, consolidated group revenues stood at EUR3.11 billion from EUR2.98 billion in 2023 and up 7.0% at constant exchange rates.

Stellantis did well, ahead 4.5 percent, with nearly 31 million units changed hands.

Brunello Cucinelli, up 3.8% with over 200,000 shares traded, closes the podium.

Recordati--green by 3.2%--reported Thursday that it closed fiscal year 2024 with net income of EUR416.5 million, up 7.0% from December 31, 2023.

Consolidated net revenues for the period stood at EUR2.34 billion, up 12 percent from FY2023.

Ebitda amounted to EUR865.8 million in 2024, up more than 12% over the previous year.

STMicroelectronics -- up 2.9% -- decided to activate layoffs for 2,500 employees at its Catania site, out of a total of 5,400, Milano Finanza reported Thursday.

Among the bearish, Tenaris gives up 1.5 percent, Banco BPM drops 1.9 percent, and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena leaves 2.4 percent on the parterre.

At the bottom is Telecom Italia - in the red by 2.6 percent - after it reported its preliminary figures to December 31, 2024, closing with total revenues of EUR14.5 billion, up 3.1 percent year-on-year. Ebitda increased 8.3% to EUR4.3 billion.

On the Mid-Cap, good buying on Salvatore Ferragamo, in the green by 8.4%.

Ascopiave - down 0.9% - approved its new strategic plan to 2028, devoted to a sustainable growth path in its core businesses of gas distribution and renewable energy, enhancing the impact of investment initiatives already underway and with high visibility, the company explained in a note.

Sales for Garofalo Health Care, down 2.3 percent.

Sanlorenzo sits at the bottom of the cadet list, down 2.6 percent. The company approved accounts as of December 31, 2024, with net revenues for the year at EUR930.4 million, up from EUR840.2 million in 2023.

Ebitda is EUR176.4 million, up from EUR157.5 million in 2023.

On the Small-Cap, double-digit gains for EPH and Fidia, up 16 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

doValue - up 7.8 percent - reported that it gave notice of the indenture dated July 22, 2021 under which it issued its EUR300 million 3.375 percent Senior Secured Notes due 2026.

Elica - down 0.9 percent - approved results for the year ended December 31, 2024, closing with a profit of EUR9.4 million compared to EUR11.3 million in fiscal 2023.

Revenues were EUR452.1 million, down 4.5% on 2023.

Gefran--up 2.2%--reported that the board of directors reviewed preliminary consolidated results as of December 31, 2024, which recorded revenues of EUR132.6 million, down 0.1% from EUR132.8 million in 2023.

Ebitda stood at EUR23.1 million or 17.4 percent of revenues, down from EUR24.1 million in 2023, which represented 18.2 percent.

Among SMEs, Vivenda Group and Monnalisa closed with double-digit gains of 11 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Arterra Bioscience - up 8.3 percent - reported that the board of directors reviewed revenues as of Dec. 31, 2024, which stood at EUR4.2 million, up 28 percent from EUR3.3 million a year earlier.

eVISO - up 1.3 percent - reported that it closed the first half of fiscal year 2024-2025 with revenues up 55 percent year-on-year to EUR169.5 million, driven by growth in its customer base and effective commercial strategies implemented during the six-month period.

Sia - up 6.9 percent - approved selected information indicative of the company's business performance related to the fourth quarter of 2024, recording a value of production of EUR4.9 million, accounting for 31 percent of revenues for the year.

The value of production for the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled approximately EUR15.6 million

Mare Engineering Group - up 0.6 percent - reported that it has signed an agreement to take over a majority stake in La Sia.

NVP - in the red by 1.0 percent - on Wednesday reported that it ended 2024 with consolidated revenues of EUR31.7 million, up 15 percent from EUR27.5 million as of Dec. 31, 2023.

At the bottom of the alternative list is Rocket Sharing Company, down 9.5%.

In New York, the Dow rose 0.8 percent, the Nasdaq advanced 1.5 percent, and the S&P 500 is advancing 1.0 percent.

In Asia, the Nikkei gave up 0.8 percent, the Hang Seng advanced 3.0 percent, and the Shanghai Composite advanced 0.4 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0473 against USD1.0441 on Thursday and European equities close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2571 from USD1.2532 last night.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD75.41 per barrel from USD75.08 per barrel at Thursday's European stock close. Gold trades at USD2,933.25 an ounce from USD2,945.41 an ounce last night.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar calls for at 0900 CET, the focus will shift to the consumer and producer price indexes in Spain.

At 1000 CET, for the Eurozone, the main consumer price index will also be released while at 1100 CET, data on changes in the level of employment and GDP will be published.

In the afternoon, at 1430 CET, from the US will come data on the export price index and retail sales, while at 1515 CET, data on industrial and manufacturing production in the US will be released.

The day will close at 1900 CET with the repot of US drilling rigs Baker Hughes.

Among the companies in the Piazza Affari, the accounts of Antares Vision, Clabo, Interpump Group, Leone Film Group, Riba Mundo Tecnologia, and Svas Biosana are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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