(Alliance News) - Major European stock markets--according to the futures market--are headed for an upward opening Friday, extending the previous session's rally, thanks to China's further implementation of policy support measures to stimulate economic growth, lifting sentiment globally. Several half-yearly reports are also expected by investors.

Thus, the FTSE Mib-after closing in the green by 1.7 percent at 34,409.34 last night-is advancing 72.50 points.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is advancing 15.40 points, Paris' CAC 40 is advancing 20.70 points, and the DAX 40 is advancing 45.50 points.

Among the smaller indices last night, the Mid-Cap rose 1.9 percent to 47,237.04, the Small-Cap picked up 0.9 percent to 28,558.38, while the Italy Growth gave up 0.2 percent to 8,013.85.

On the mostly bullish Mib last night, Brunello Cucinelli finished in the green by 7.5 percent, followed by Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Moncler, which rounded out the podium, with gains of 6.6 percent.

UniCredit followed, in the green by 4.8 percent, still with the wind in its sails on the Commerzabank deal.

The European Investment Bank awarded Nexi - up 1.4 percent - a EUR220 million loan to support digital payments innovation in Europe. The stock was up 1.0% to EUR6.09 per share.

Eni - down 3.0% - pays duty on falling oil prices. Also hurt were Saipem, in the red by 5.7%, and Tenaris, down 0.6%.

On the Mid-Cap, Danieli & C. ended at the bottom, down 2.3% after reporting Wednesday that it closed its June 30 financial statements with a net profit of EUR240.8 million, down slightly from EUR243.6 million a year earlier. Revenues rose to EUR4.35 billion from EUR4.10 billion.

Rear-views also for Philogen, which posted minus 1.0 percent. The board on Wednesday approved the consolidated half-yearly financial statements as of June 30, 2024, closing with a net loss of EUR15.5 million while, last year, a positive net result of EUR7.7 million or so was reported for the same period. Total group revenues as of June 30, 2024 amounted to EUR1.7 million, a decrease of about 92 percent compared to the period ended June 30, 2023.

Instead, Salvatore Ferragamo closed up 11 percent, followed by GVS, up just under 11 percent, and Ariston Holding, in the green by 7.6 percent.

On the Small-Cap, Sogefi ended the session up 5.8 percent while Biesse followed with 4.5 percent. Bestbe Holding did better than all and closed up 6.7 percent.

On the other side of the list, Met.Extra Group and Seco finished at the bottom, in the red by 5.4 percent and 5.1 percent.

Datalogic--green by 1.3 percent--and Worldline, a global leader in payment services, announced Thursday that they have entered into a strategic partnership that is a significant step forward in simplifying payment processes.

Among SMEs, Mevim gained 12 percent while Mare Engineering Group closed in the green by 8.7 percent after announcing Thursday that it closed the first half of the year with a net profit of EUR572,000, up triple digits from EUR100,000 in the same period of 2023.

Production value was EUR18.8 million from EUR17.5 million as of June 30, 2023, up 7.2 percent.

Notorious Pictures ended the session 3.9 percent in the red after announcing Thursday that it closed the first half with a loss of EUR1.5 million from a profit of EUR2.5 million as of June 30, 2024.

Ilpra gave up 3.8 percent after reporting Thursday that it closed the first half with a net profit of EUR2.2 million from EUR3.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

Revenues stood at EUR26.8 million, down 7.0% from EUR28.8 million as of June 30, 2023.

Franchetti - down 1.3 percent - reported Thursday that it ended the first half of the year with a value of production of EUR3.5 million, up from EUR2.9 million in the same period a year earlier.

Giglio.com - in the red by 9.7 percent - reported Thursday that first-half revenues fell to EUR22.6 million from EUR27.1 million in the same period a year earlier.

iVision Tech - in the red by 3.5 percent - reported Wednesday evening that its board of directors approved the consolidated half-year financial report as of June 30, ending the period on a breakeven basis. The value of production as of June 30, 2024 was EUR6.9 million.

The board of Lemon Sistemi -- down 6.9 percent -- approved the consolidated half-yearly report as of June 30, closing with a net loss of EUR1.7 million compared to a profit of EUR500,000 last year. Value of production stood at EUR4.4 million compared to EUR6.4 million recorded as of June 30, 202, down 32 percent.

International Care Co closed up 13 percent after reporting a first-half loss of EUR432,000 from a loss of EUR610,000 as of June 30, 2023.

Revenues for the period stood at EUR3.9 million, up 24 percent from EUR3.2 million in the first half of 2023.

In New York, the Dow closed up 0.6 percent as did the Nasdaq, while the S&P 500 rallied 0.4 percent.

In Asian markets, the Nikkei rallied 1.6 percent, the Hang Seng is rallying 2.4 percent, and the Shanghai Composite is up 2.5 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.1161 versus USD1.1176 in Thursday's European stock close while the pound is worth USD1.3380 from USD1.3411 last night.

Among commodities, Brent crude trades lower at USD71.45 per barrel versus USD71.80 per barrel at yesterday's European stock close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,666.70 an ounce from USD2,667.75 an ounce last night.

Friday's economic calendar will release inflation data in Spain at 0900 CEST and in Italy at 1100 CEST.

At 0955 CEST, the unemployment figure is due out in Germany while Italian industrial sales are expected at 1000 CEST.

At 1100 CEST, Eurozone consumer confidence will come out while at 1145 CEST an auction of Italian 10- and 5-year BTPs will be held.

From the U.S., at 1430 CEST the index of key consumer spending prices is expected while from Canada, at the same time, July GDP will be released.

A number of half-yearly results of listed companies are expected in Piazza Affari.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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