(Alliance News) - Piazza Affari - according to the futures market - is moving around the parity line before the bell rings, with markets continuing to assess the implications of the European Central Bank's latest policy decision.

On Thursday, as expected, the ECB cut rates by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent, the third reduction this year.

In Italy, the government has decided to postpone the sale of 14 percent of Poste Italiane's shares, and the group led by Matteo Del Fante has announced that the transaction has been suspended pending further decisions regarding the modalities and timing of the offering. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti reassured that these are only minor technical issues that will be resolved. However, the announcement of the halt, which came shortly before the scheduled date of the deal, has created uncertainty in the market, Corriere della Sera reported Friday.

Some believe that the government has decided not to overlap this privatization, with an estimated value of EUR2.5 billion, with the ongoing discussion of the economic maneuver, known for its austerity content. Others speculate that the postponement is related to the intention to increase the participation of domestic investors in the deal.

The FTSE Mib-after closing Thursday up 1.1 percent to 35,038.73-is marking an almost unchanged movement.

London's FTSE 100 is surrendering 44.90 points, Paris' CAC 40 is giving up 32.30 points, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is marking a decline of 35.60 points.

Among the smaller lists last night, the Mid-Cap finished up 0.4 percent to 47,265.20, the Small-Cap gained 0.4 percent to 28,422.26, and Italy Growth gave up 0.4 percent to 8,178.67.

Back in Milan, on the Mib, Snam -- up 0.2% -- reported Thursday that it had unveiled its first Transition Plan, a roadmap he outlines the path toward achieving net zero by 2050, with the goal of supporting the decarbonization of the energy system.

Banco BPM also had a good session, rising 1.1 percent, ending its seventh session among gainers.

Stellantis gave up 0.5 percent after Moody's downgraded its outlook from Stable to Negative due to the global slowdown and still stalled demand for electric vehicles.

As for Telecom Italia, up 0.4 percent to EUR0.2532 per share, the new Sparkle could include a solid public majority with the Finance Ministry at 70 percent, while Asterion would have 30 percent, as Il Sole 24 Ore wrote Thursday.

Among the bearish also Inwit, down 0.3 percent.

On the Mid-Cap, Digital Value rebounded more than 8.0 percent after heavy losses in previous sessions due to the ongoing investigation. The company announced Wednesday that it has received, from Massimo Rossi, an irrevocable resignation with immediate effect from the position of board member, in addition to the resignation as chairman and CEO previously sent.

For its part, Sesa -- in the green by 0.4 percent -- reported that it is not involved in the investigation involving Digital Value, as was reported in press reports.

Sesa says it is focused on strategic areas other than Digital Value, in which it holds a minimum stake of 3.6 percent through DV Holding, acquired for EUR4 million in 2018.

The Digital Value activities under investigation are not strategic for Sesa, which has invested mainly in consulting, systems integration and vertical applications for the Corporate and Enterprise segment.

Maire gave up 4.5 percent to EUR7.63 per share. As Milano Finanza wrote on Thursday, in view of the third-quarter results due on October 24, which are expected to grow, Jefferies confirmed the "buy" rating and target price at EUR10, but in the best-case scenario the target price is set at EUR12.

Specifically, as the financial newspaper recalls, as for the quarterly earnings report, Jefferies expects revenues to increase by 10 percent from the previous quarter to EUR1.502 billion, just below the consensus estimate at EUR1.538 billion, thanks to the advancement of the Hail & Ghasha E&C project, with further revenue growth of 20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024.

In addition, Maire announced today that it has signed a new Sustainability-linked credit facility maturing in May 2028 for a total amount of EUR200 million.

d'Amico International Shipping -- in the red by 0.4 percent -- on Wednesday announced that its operating subsidiary, d'Amico Tankers DAC, has exercised a purchase option for the MT High Leader, a medium-range tanker with a gross capacity of 49,999 tons, built in Japan in 2018. The purchase cost is approximately USD34.3 million and delivery is scheduled between the second and third quarters of 2025.

On the Small-Cap, Aeffe rose 1.4 percent. The company announced this week the appointment of Lorenzo Serafini as creative director of the Alberta Ferretti brand.

Among the bearish was Elica, down 3.4 percent to EUR1.8350 per share and with just under 82,000 changed hands.

Olidata closed 1.3 percent in the red, continuing declines after the Sogei investigation.

Among SMEs, Circle -- up 1.3 percent to EUR8.10 -- announced Thursday that it has been selected as a partner for the SEMAS-EMSWe project. With an allocated funding of EUR245,000, Circle will help modernize Europe's maritime transport infrastructure by simplifying and harmonizing digital reporting in seven EU member states, the company explained in a note.

Allcore - up 0.3 percent - on Wednesday evening announced that it had resolved to issue an unsecured, non-convertible bond up to a maximum of EUR2.0 million called "Allcore Bond 2024 2033."

Dotstay - flat at the end of the meeting - reported Thursday that the board of directors reviewed key performance indicators related to real estate as of Sept. 30. Specifically, there were 14 properties under management while 49 others are under direct lease, for a total of 63 properties, down slightly from the 69 recorded as of Sept. 30, 2023, and down from 65 as of June 30, 2024.

Maps rose 0.8 percent after announcing a partnership with Step, a Treviglio-based innovation hub that specializes in reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes through technological innovation. STEP's goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by five million tons.

Rocket Sharing Company - up 2.2 percent - announced that the accelerated bookbuilding procedure was concluded with the subscription of 1.3 million newly issued ordinary shares, with no indication of par value and with the same characteristics as those outstanding, resulting from the share capital increase approved by the board of directors.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow Jones closed up 0.4 percent, the Nasdaq finished just above par, and the S&P 500 closed just below par.

Among Asian exchanges, the Nikkei rallied 0.2 percent, the Hang Seng is advancing 2.6 percent, and the Shanghai Composite is in the green by 2.7 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0841 against USD1.0821 on Thursday in closing European equities while the pound is worth USD1.3064 from USD1.2999 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is trading at USD74.83 per barrel versus USD74.52 per barrel at Thursday's European stock close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,707.25 an ounce from USD2,690.53 an ounce last night.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar, at 1000 CEST, incoming Eurozone current account data. For the eurozone, at 1100 CEST, construction output data will also arrive. At 1200 CEST, eyes on Spanish consumer confidence and the EU leaders' summit.

Moving overseas, at 1430 CEST, US building permits will come out, and at 1900 CEST, the day will close with data on drilling rigs in the States.

Among the companies in the Square of Business, Renovalo's results are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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