(Alliance News) - On Thursday, the Mib closed bullish in the 35,800-point area, extending the previous session's gain, reaching and rising to the highest level since January 2008.

The rise was also fueled by the latest U.S. consumer inflation report, which signaled a slowdown and rekindled expectations that the Fed may cut rates at least once this year.

In this regard, Fed board member Chris Waller said that U.S. inflation is likely to continue to fall, allowing the Federal Reserve to cut rates sooner and to a greater extent than initially expected.

On the domestic front, Italy's trade surplus in November was lower than estimated and down from the previous month, Istat reported Thursday. Italy's trade balance with foreign countries in November recorded a surplus of EUR4.22 billion, down from EUR5.07 billion recorded in October and below FxStreet's estimates of EUR4.50 billion. In November 2023, the trade surplus had been EUR4.05 billion.

Thus, the FTSE Mib closed up 0.5 percent to 35,819.79, the Mid-Cap rose 1.2 percent to 47,903.08, the Small-Cap closed in the red 0.2 percent to 27,953.55 while Italy Growth gave up 0.2 percent to 7,847.52.

London's FTSE 100 closed in the green 1.1 percent, Paris' CAC 40 rose 2.1 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 closed up 0.3 percent.

On the Mib, strength on Moncler, which advanced 6.3 percent to EUR at EUR56.84 per share, on the heels of the eve's gain that closed with a plus 0.3 percent.

Also doing well was another luxury stock, Brunello Cucinelli, which rallied 2.2 percent after a 0.5 percent decline on eve.

Azimut Holding -- in the green by 0.9 percent -- said Thursday that based on early summary data and estimated results, it expects to close the 2024 fiscal year with a net profit of about EUR600 million, placing it in the higher range of the target revised in November of EUR550-600 million. Total net inflows in 2024 amount to EUR18.3 billion. Total assets stood at EUR108 billion as of Dec. 31, up 26 percent from the end of 2023.

Generali -- in the black with 0.6 percent -- aims to become the top foreign insurer in Spain by 2027, overtaking Zurich, Axa and Allianz, as Milano Finanza writes Thursday. The goal is boosted by the integration of Liberty Seguros, acquired in 2023. Currently, Spain is the fourth largest market for Generali, with EUR2.6 billion in premiums, the newspaper adds.

Eni--down 0.3 percent--reported Thursday that Plenitude, through its subsidiary Eni New Energy US, has signed an agreement with EDP Renewables North America LLC to acquire a 49 percent stake in two already operational photovoltaic plants and an electricity storage facility under construction in California.

Iveco, down 1.9 percent, was also among the few bearish performers, raising its oars after two sessions closed with a positive balance.

On the cadet segment, strength on Technoprobe, which closed bullishly up 7.4 percent on the heels of eve's green, albeit by a modest 0.5 percent.

De' Longhi -- in the green by 6.2 percent -- announced Wednesday the start of a share buyback plan for a maximum amount of about EUR60.0 million, or 1.4 percent of the share capital. The program will begin on January 16 and will have a maximum duration of six months.

Salvatore Ferragamo, on the other hand, closes advancing 2.7 percent to EUR6.88 per share. Of note, Bank of America raised its target price on the stock to EUR5.00 from EUR4.00.

Among the many bearish performers, Banca Ifis left 2.2 percent at EUR22.20 per share on the parterre, following up its eve's 0.4 percent decline.

d'Amico, on the other hand, is giving up 2.6 percent, following Wednesday evening's gain of 2.4 percent.

On the SmallCap, Il Sole 24 Ore advanced well, closing up 2.9 percent, in its third bullish session.

For Seri Industrial, on the other hand, the gain was 4.6 percent, repeating the gain of the eve closed with a bullish candle of 2.6 percent.

I Grandi Viaggi -- in the green by 5.8 percent -- reported Thursday that it had closed its annual accounts as of October 31 with a profit of EUR3.3 million, up from EUR2.8 million in 2023. Revenue from the group's core operations was EUR62.6 million, up from EUR57.0 million in the previous year. Total revenues increased to EUR67.2 million from EUR61.2 million in 2023.

Geox, on the other hand, closed down 4.2 percent to EUR0.4120, in its sixth bearish session.

Among SMEs, purchases on AATech, which closed ahead 9.8%, rebounding after two sessions in which it gave up more than 10%.

Fope - in the green by 6.7 percent - reported Thursday that it ended fiscal 2024 with consolidated net revenues of EUR73.4 million, up 10 percent from EUR66.8 million in 2023. Net financial position was EUR3.3 million positive, an improvement of EUR3.3 million from the previous year.

On a negative note, among the many, GT Talent Group gave up more than 13 percent to EUR1.50, updating a new low in the 52-week range.

ISCC Fintech, on the other hand, gave up 8.8 percent, following eve's gain of 1.9 percent.

In New York, the Dow is just below par, the Nasdaq gives up 0.3 percent while the S&P 500 is at parity.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0306 versus USD1.0304 in Wednesday's European stock close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2242 from USD1.2257 last night.

Among commodities, boost on oil, with Brent crude worth USD80.50 per barrel from USD81.02 per barrel in Wednesday's European stock close. Gold trades at USD2,720.22 an ounce from USD2,680.37 an ounce Wednesday evening.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar forecasts, at 0300 CET, the release of China's Gross Domestic Product figure, retail sales, industrial production and unemployment rate.

From the United Kingdom, at 0800 CET, the retail sales report will be released, while for the Eurozone, at 1000 CET, it will be the turn of the current account balance.

At 1100 CET, again from the Eurozone, room for the inflation figure.

From the US, at 1430 CET, coming up is data on the construction sector, followed at 1515 CET by industrial and manufacturing production.

At 1900 CET, meanwhile, the Baker Hughes report will be released, while at 2130 CET, as usual on Fridays, it will be the turn of the COT Report.

On the corporate calendar for the Piazza Affari, there is no event scheduled

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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