(Alliance News) - On Wednesday, the Mib closed bearish settling around 35,800 points, in its fifth session in negative balance.

Traders continued to weigh the implications of U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to impose tariffs on the EU and China, following his earlier statement regarding the possibility of introducing heavy tariffs on neighbors Canada and Mexico.

In response, the EU commissioner said Wednesday that Europe will respond proportionately to any U.S. tariffs.

On the issue, meanwhile, ECB President Christine Lagarde stressed that the central bank "is not particularly concerned" about the impact of export inflation on the eurozone.

Thus, the FTSE Mib closed down 0.6 percent at 35,854.07, the Mid-Cap rose 0.4 percent to 48,016.91, the Small-Cap finished 0.3 percent in the red at 28,065.10 while Italy Growth gave up 0.3 percent to 7,791.03.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 closed just below par, Paris' CAC 40 rose 0.8%, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 closed up 1.0%.

On the Mib, purchases on Leonardo, which closed up 1.6 percent at EUR29.32, upgrading during the session to a 52-week high at EUR29.57.

Prysmian - up 3.4 percent - decided to abandon its Brayton Point, Massachusetts, project to build a plant dedicated to producing cables for offshore wind farms. The company, as Il Sole 24 Ore reported Wednesday, communicated the decision to local stakeholders, explaining that the choice is linked to a strategic assessment of market opportunities.

Telecom Italia -- in the red by 0.8 percent -- on Wednesday confirmed that it had received notice about the Court of Appeals' decision to reject the request for a suspension, so the ruling from April last year -- ordering the company to return fee 98 and related interest and accessories to the company -- is provisionally enforceable. The final decisions to be made by the Court of Cassation following the appeal filed by the Prime Minister's Office are now awaited, the company explained in a note.

Snam - in the green by 0.1 percent to EUR4.31 - announced Wednesday that it had approved its new strategic plan to 2029, which features the largest investments in the company's history and amounts to EUR12.4 billion. Looking at the financials, the company expects a RAB of 6.4 percent thanks to new investments, the effect of inflation and the integration of assets such as Edison Stoccaggio, the Ravenna FSRU and CCS assets.

Eni - in the red by 0.4 percent - is steadily continuing its buyback plan. The company announced Wednesday that it bought back 3.6 million of its own ordinary shares between Jan. 13 and Jan. 17. The shares son, worth a total of EUR50.0 million.

A2A, on the other hand, gave up 3.0 percent, after two sessions of positive balance.

On the Mid-Cap, LU-VE led the price up 3.4%, in its third bullish session.

Technoprobe, on the other hand, rallied 3.7%, also ringing in its third bullish candle session.

Work is intensifying on the merger between Rai Way, 65 percent controlled by Rai, and EI Towers Spa, 60 percent owned by the F2i fund and 40 percent by MFE-MediaForEurope, formerly Mediaset. According to Wednesday's La Repubblica newspaper, the search for a third-party advisor to evaluate the two companies and their respective antenna leases has already begun. Rai Way closed the session up 2.0 percent.

ERG, on the other hand, left 4.3 percent on the parterre, in its third bearish session.

Alerion, on the other hand, contracted 4.5%, after two sessions in which it rallied an aggregate of about 5%.

On the Small-Cap, Bestbe Holding finished up 3.2% at EUR0.5220 per share, in its fifth bullish session.

Sabaf -- in the green by 2.5 percent -- reported Tuesday that it ended 2024 with normalized pre-consolidated sales revenues of EUR277 million, up 16 percent from the previous year. This is the "highest level of revenues" the group has ever achieved, the company's statement said.

Olidata, on the other hand, closed down 4.0 percent to EUR0.2495, a new low on the 52-week range.

Ratti left 3.0 percent on the parter, bringing its price to EUR1.94 per share.

Among SMEs, Finance for Food stood on the highs, rocking the waters after several sessions, with 8.3% up and with price at EUR2.08.

Renovalo - in the green by 1.8 percent - announced Wednesday that it has signed a binding agreement to take over the entire capital of GI General Impianti Srl, a company active in the in-house and third-party construction of civil and industrial technological plants. Renovalo will take over 60 percent of GI from shareholders Angelo Finelli, Gerardo Somma and Carmine D'Amelio, for EUR520,000 paid today plus 70 percent of the transfer price net of funds paid Wednesday, and the remaining 30 percent will be paid in four half-yearly installments.

Circle -- in the black by 0.7 percent -- announced Wednesday that it had signed a contract with a major Mediterranean port concerning two main assets. As the company explained in a note, one concerns the completion of the integration of Port Community Services for the management of import and export cargo flows and another the evolution of rail shunting, with the Rail Management Platform to support the scheduling of rail shunting operations. The agreement worth about EUR100,000.

Xenia Hôtellerie Solution -- in negative balance of 6.9 percent -- presented on Wednesday its business plan to 2028 and its preliminary results for 2024, which see turnover for the year at EUR57.2 million, registering a 14 percent increase from EUR50.2 million in 2023. Ebitda was EUR2.5 million, down 46 percent from the previous year, a result impacted by extraordinary costs related to M&A and corporate reorganization.

In New York, the Dow is giving up 0.2 percent, the Nasdaq is giving up 1.4 percent, and the S&P 500 is posting a green of 0.8 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0421 versus USD1.0414 in Tuesday's European equities close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2323 from USD1.2317 on Tuesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD79.10 per barrel from USD79.47 per barrel at Tuesday's European stock close. Gold trades at USD2,758.73 an ounce from USD2,742.36 an ounce last night.

On Thursday's economic calendar, coming in at 0050 CET from Japan is trade balance data.

From the US, on the other hand, data on unemployment claims are expected at 1430 CET, while at 1700 CET US President Donald Trump will give a speech.

At 1800 CET, from the US, the EIA report and Cushing's inventory, while at 2230 CET it will be the turn of the Federal Reserve's weekly balance sheet.

On the corporate calendar in Piazza Affari, Aeffe's accounts are scheduled.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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