(Alliance News) - European stock futures are positioned for an upward opening Thursday as investors continue to assess the state of inflation, interest rates and the health of the global economy. Traders are concerned about soaring oil prices and global bond yields that support a scenario of higher interest rates for a longer period.

The FTSE Mib, thus, according to IG futures, has a bullish reading of 42.50 points, after closing down 0.3 percent at 28,012.30 last night.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is advancing 6.00 points, Paris' CAC 40 is at full parity, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is advancing 31.00 points.

Among the smaller lists last night, the Mid-Cap rose 0.1 percent to 38,992.51, the Small-Cap gave up 0.3 percent to 25,529.95, and Italy Growth lost 0.5 percent to 8,319.36.

On the main list of Piazza Affari last night, DiaSorin closed just below par, closing down for the third session in a row.

Good buying on Ferrari, up 0.6 percent, which rebounded after four bearish sessions.

Nexi, on the other hand, rose 1.1 percent to EUR5.7780 per share after once again hitting record lows this week.

Drop and tail of the list for Banca Monte dei Paschi, which gives up 6.6 percent. The Siena-based bank, according to market rumors, would see the Treasury at work to divest an 8% stake, all within the first decade of October.

On the Mid-Cap, El.En. rose 4.3 percent. It should be noted that the stock, since the beginning of 2023, marks a decline of more than 40 percent. The company announced Tuesday that it has kicked off its new EUR1.0 million buyback program of its own ordinary shares.

Good buying also on Reply, which gained 4.6 percent after four bearish sessions, even on a weekly basis still shows a 2.2 percent loss.

Danieli & C. - up 2.0 percent - reported Tuesday that it closed the 2022-2023 fiscal year with year-on-year revenue up to EUR4.10 billion from EUR3.62 billion in the previous year. The stock fluctuated upward by 1.8 percent. The board proposed the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.31 for ordinary shares -- worth a total of EUR11.6 million -- and EUR0.3307 for savings shares, worth EUR12.1 million. Last year, the company distirbuted a dividend of EUR0.2793 for savings shares and one of EUR0.30 for ordinary shares.

Salvatore Ferragamo, on the other hand, fell 2.1 percent. On the stock it is mentioned that Barclays cut its target price to EUR13.00 from EUR14.00.

Sales also prevailed, among many, on Fincantieri, which gave up 2.0 percent. The company signed a EUR800 million medium-long term loan on Monday, with a term of five years including three years of pre-amortization, 70% backed by a SACE guarantee.

On the Small-Cap, algoWatt advanced 0.5 percent on the heels of the double-digit rise of 11 percent in the previous session.

In contrast, d'Amico appreciated 7.0 percent, after a 2.2 percent gain on the eve.

At the tail end, Aeffe gave up 8.1 percent.

Among SMEs, FAE Technology did well, up 2.7% on the eve of the release of its half-year accounts.

Relatech--up 5.6 percent--reported Wednesday that its board of directors reviewed and approved consolidated economic and financial data as of June 30 reporting adjusted net income of EUR3.8 million, up 120 percent from EUR1.7 million for the same period in 2022. Net income amounted to EUR2.9 million from EUR2.1 million recorded as of June 30, 2022.

Value of production as of June 30 was about EUR51.1 million, up 73% from about EUR29.5 million as of June 30, 2022. Revenues amounted to EUR47.8 million, up from EUR25.3 million as of June 30, 2022.

Edil San Felice made its debut on the Italian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, after raising EUR10.8 million, giving up 2.0%. If the over-allotment option is exercised, the raise would increase to EUR11.8 million. The free float is 22.1 percent and the market capitalization at IPO is EUR48.7 million.

Edil San Felice is a company specializing in civil and industrial construction. It is an integrated operator of solutions for ordinary and extraordinary development and maintenance in the area of highway and airport infrastructure, engaged in the construction and maintenance of roads, highways, bridges, viaducts and airports. Over the years, the company has also specialized in environmental services, such as collection transportation of special hazardous waste and remediation work.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow Jones closed down 0.2 percent, the Nasdaq rose 0.2 percent, and the S&P 500 closed just above par.

Among Asian exchanges, the Nikkei posted minus 1.7 percent, the Hang Seng gave up 1.2 percent, and the Shanghai Composite advanced 0.2 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0504 versus USD1.0514 in Wednesday's European stock close while the pound is instead worth USD1.2138 from USD1.2140 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD97.36 per barrel versus USD94.76 per barrel at yesterday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,874.30 an ounce from USD1,885.51 an ounce last night.

On Thursday's macroeconomic calendar, coming up is Italy's producer price index at 1100 CEST. For the Bel Paese, space is also given to confidence data at 1000 CEST.

Focus also on Spanish retail sales, at 0900 CEST, while consumer and business confidence data will also arrive for the Eurozone, at 1100 CEST, and for the Iberian nation, at 1300 CEST.

In the afternoon, eyes on U.S. Gross Domestic Product, at 1430 CEST, which will arrive at the same time as jobless claims, core PCE and consumer spending. Housing data will arrive at 1600 CEST while closing out the day will be the Federal Reserve's balance sheet, scheduled for release at 2230 CEST.

Among the nearly 60 companies in the Piazza Affari that will release accounts on Thursday, worth mentioning are Agatos, Conafi, Innovatec and TMP Group.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News senior reporter

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