Piazza Affari continues up slightly amid equally calm European stock markets in the aftermath of the expected ECB rate cut and ahead of the Fed next week.

A drag on the rises comes from weakness in Asian bourses and China in particular, while futures on U.S. indexes move slightly ahead.

Meanwhile, eyes turn to France where a new prime minister is expected to be named soon.

The climate of political uncertainty in Europe's top two economies, tensions in the Middle East, and Trump's inauguration in January are causing investors to close their portfolios for year-end with some caution after the 15 percent rise accumulated since January.

After Christine Lagarde's lecture yesterday, expectations that the ECB will decide to cut rates by 50 basis points in January have increased significantly but Trump's future policy on tariffs remains a question mark.

Around 12 noon, the Ftse Mib rose 0.37 percent with thin volumes around 750 million.

Among the stocks in focus:

Well as across Europe, the automotive sector is up an average of 1.5% after a turbulent period. It has been essentially flat since the beginning of the year. Iveco up nearly 3 percent today, Stellantis up 1.6 percent.

In contrast, banks are flat, with the outlook for monetary easing not favoring the sector; Bper recovers its initial decline and rises to just above par.

Lively Tim (+2.2%). Mef and Retelit have asked for a two-day postponement of the deadline to submit a bid for Sparkle. Intermonte does not rule out that the current, non-binding 700 million offer could be improved.

Quiet Eni and Enel, down go Buzzi and Recordati.

Down slightly in luxury goods (Moncler -0.6 percent). Intesa Sanpaolo analysts cite low visibility on Beijing's support measures for the economy, for which we may have to wait until we know Trump's trade policy first.

Loses more than 5% Dovalue at the end of the capital increase, in light Lazio (+1.9%), which won in Amsterdam against Aiax in the Europa League.

(Claudia Cristoferi, editing Sabina Suzzi)