(Alliance News) - Europe's major stock markets open without momentum on Monday, with Piazza Affari down, as traders await the release -- later in the week -- of several key economic indicators to assess the health of the global economy, including U.S. PCE inflation, preliminary euro area inflation data and Chinese PMIs.

Focus, too, on possible statements by various Fed policymakers, which will be scrutinized for any indications of the U.S. central bank's next decisions.

Thus, the FTSE Mib opens in the red 0.2 percent to 32,624.21, the Mid-Cap rises 0.2 percent to 46,090.39, the Small-Cap advances 0.8 percent to 28,160.86, and Italy Growth is in the green 0.2 percent to 8,203.59.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is in fractional green at 7,708.46, Frankfurt's DAX 40 is just below par at 17,410.65 and Paris' CAC 40 gives up 0.2 percent to 7,952.53.

On the Mib, Tenaris rises 0.4 percent after announcing results Thursday for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, a year that ended with a 5 percent increase in revenues on a sequential basis, "supported by a high level of shipments to the Middle East and for offshore pipeline projects," the company writes in the note.

Total sales for 2023 were USD14.86 billion from USD11.76 billion in the previous year.

At the top is Leonardo, in the green by 3.0 percent, followed by Banco BPM and Telecom Italia, in the green by 2.5 percent and 0.7 percent.

Also among the few bearish performers are Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Iveco Group, which advance 0.9% and 0.7%.

At the bottom end are Moncler, which gives up 1.8 percent, and Mediobanca, in the red by 1.0 percent.

On the cadet segment, Ariston Holding -- in the red by 0.7 percent -- on Thursday disclosed that it has finalized an agreement to acquire a manufacturing site located in the Oct. 6 Municipality Industrial Park near Cairo, Egypt, from Universal Group, a historic Egyptian manufacturing company founded by Youssri Kotb.

Industrie De Nora leads the list with a 4.3 percent rise. The company announced in recent days that it purchased 158,878 shares of its common stock during the period Feb. 12 to Feb. 16.

The shares were taken over at a weighted average price of EUR14.9213 for a total value of about EUR2.4 million.

Seco and Ferretti followed, up 4.0 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

At the other end, Iren opens down 1.0% and Alerion Clean Power gives up 0.9%.

Among the smallcaps, Tesmec gives up 1.8% after reporting its preliminary operating data for FY2023 on Saturday and letting it know that it revised its closing estimate due to a slowdown in Trencher business.

Preliminary revenues therefore stand in the EUR252-258 million range, compared to EUR245.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2022, and against the forecast of expected revenues in the EUR270-280 million range.

IGD SIIQ rises 6.2 percent after announcing on Friday that it has signed an agreement with Sixth Street and subsidiaries of Starwood Capital and Prelios SGR Spa, among the leading real estate management and services companies in Italy, to sell a portfolio consisting of 13 assets, valued at EUR258 million, broadly in line with the book value as of December 31, 2023.

The transaction will close by April 2024.

FNM - flat at EUR0.44 - announced the completion of the closing for the acquisition of 80 percent of the share capital of Viridis Energia Spa, an independent power producer, from Lagi Energia 2006 Srl and HNF Spa, as previously anticipated.

The acquisition was finalized through the payment of EUR80 million.

Compagnia Immobiliare Azionaria opens up 6.7 percent after announcing Friday that it has approved plans to merge CIA into Compagnie Fonciére Du Vin Spa.

Openjobmetis -- in the green by 0.3 percent -- announced Friday that Groupe Crit has signed preliminary contracts to take over a significant stake in the same company.

In detail, Crit, at a price of EUR16.50 per share, will take over Plavisgas, holder of 34.1 percent of Openjobmetis, and 18.5 percent of the company's capital from Omniafin and 5.2 percent from MTI Investimenti. The closing of the acquisitions is subject to the required authorization under the golden power.

Following the deals, Crit will hold 57.7 percent of Openjobmetis, on which it will launch a tender offer at EUR16.50 per share.

Sogefi opens with a theoretical rise of 30 percent, and the stock is currently trading flat, after announcing Friday that it closed 2023 with a profit of EUR57.8 million, up 95 percent from EUR29.6 million in 2022.

Consolidated revenues grew 5.5 percent to EUR1.62 billion from EUR1.54 billion in 2022.

Ebitda of EUR221.4 million increased 14 percent from EUR195.1 million, with an Ebitda margin of 13.6 percent from 12.6 percent, driven by growth in volumes and contribution margin.

Antares Vision - in the green by 0.2.% - reported Friday that the board of directors reviewed preliminary results as of December 31, 2023 reporting full-year revenues of EUR215 million to EUR220 million.

Adjusted Ebitda "is expected to be" between EUR13 and EUR15 million, the company wrote.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed up 0.3 percent to 39,208.50, the Hang Seng is down 0.5 percent to 16,644.00, and the Shanghai Composite is in the red 0.3 percent to 2,977.02.

Among PMIs, Palingeo is up 5.7 percent. One week after its debut on the Milan Stock Exchange, the stock rose to EUR5.60 from its placement price of EUR5.00.

Generalfinance rises 8.5 percent after reporting that it closed 2023 with a 38 percent increase in profit to EUR15.1 million from EUR10.9 million as of December 31, 2022.

Net interest income in 2023 stood at EUR9.0 million from EUR7.3 million in the previous year.

Net interest and other banking income was EUR36.2 million from EUR30.9 million as of December 31, 2022.

Visibilia Editore--whose stock is blocked--in reference to the capital increase up to EUR1 million approved by its subsidiary Visibilia Editrice Srl, Visibilia Concessionaria Srl announced on Friday that Visibilia Concessionaria Srl made a payment of EUR50,000 to Editrice on account of a capital increase last Feb. 15.

Visibilia Concessionaria had previously indicated its willingness to subscribe to part of Visibilia Editore's capital increase up to a maximum of EUR600,000.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed up 0.4 percent to 39,233.71, the Hang Seng closed down 0.6 percent to 16,624.03, and the Shanghai Composite finished in the red 0.9 percent to 2,977.02.

In New York, the Dow closed Friday in the green 0.2 percent to 39,131.53, the Nasdaq gave up 0.3 percent to 15,996.82 and the S&P 500 closed in the fractional green at 5,088.80.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0835 against USD1.0825 recorded at Friday's European stock close, while the pound was worth USD1.2674 from USD1.2669 on Friday evening.

Brent crude is worth USD81.15 per barrel versus USD82.33 per barrel at Friday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,035.80 an ounce from USD2,044.15 an ounce Friday night.

The macroeconomic calendar for Monday afternoon, includes at 1400 CET data on building permits and building permits in the US and half an hour later Canadian manufacturing sales.

At 1600 CET, it is the turn of new home sales for January in the US.

Among companies listed on the stock exchange, Omer's results are expected.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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