Indices up; Interpump tops on Mib.

(Alliance News) - Major European indexes closed Monday's session higher on a quiet day in terms of macroeconomic data.

"The Nikkei 225 rose 1.3 percent, while European stock indexes recovered ground despite U.S. bond yields rising to 4 1/2-month highs, curbing the advance of the domestic market," comments Axel Rudolph, senior market analyst at IG.

"Quiet trading after the Non-Farm Payrolls, pending Wednesday's U.S. FOMC minutes and CPI, dominated the trading session. German exports, which fell more than expected, and industrial production growth, which exceeded forecasts, were not closely watched by traders early in the day."

Thus, the FTSE Mib closed up 0.9 percent to 34,315.96, the Mid-Cap advanced 0.6 percent to 47,942.63, the Small-Cap rose 0.3 percent to 28,513.65, and Italy Growth was up 0.4 percent to 8,140.22.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 closed in the green by 0.4 percent, Frankfurt's DAX 40 rose 0.8 percent and Paris' CAC 40 gained 0.7 percent.

On the Mib, Banca Generali, in the green by 0.5 percent, reported Monday that it recorded net inflows of EUR600 million, bringing its total since the beginning of the year to EUR1.65 billion.

The flow mix in the quarter improved markedly thanks to a strong increase in demand for investment products and services that rose to EUR651 million in the period from EUR109 million in January-March last year.

Azimut Holding -- up 1.6 percent -- reported Monday that it had recorded net inflows of EUR598 million in March, bringing total net inflows since the beginning of the year to EUR1.5 billion. Total assets including assets under administration stood at EUR95.1 billion at the end of March, of which EUR63.2 billion refer to assets under management.

FinecoBank is up 0.7 percent after reporting Monday that it recorded inflows of EUR806 million in March, bringing its total since the beginning of the year to EUR2.2 billion. Asset management weighs EUR120 million in March, with the year-to-date total rising to EUR469 million.

Interpump group does best of all and closes the session in the green by 4.8 percent followed by Iveco Group with 3.9 percent and Telecom Italia, up 3.0 percent.

On the cadet list, Fincantieri took the top spot with a 2.9% rise.

It was followed by Intercos, which -- in the green by 2.8 percent -- announced Monday that it had signed a new business agreement with The Estée Lauder Companies.

With this new agreement, The Estée Lauder Companies has decided to transfer most of the production of cosmetic powders previously done in-house to the U.S. and entrust Intercos America with their production.

Anima Holding gained 0.6 percent after reporting Monday that it posted negative inflows of EUR94 million in March, bringing its total since the beginning of the year to a negative EUR867 million

Maire Tecnimont finished in the green by 1.1 percent. The company reported that it purchased 1.1 million of its own shares between April 2 and April 4, for a total value of EUR8.4 million.

Juventus FC rose 2.1 percent. The company reported that the EUR200.0 million capital increase was fully subscribed, following the sale of the unopted on the market. In the league round, however, the team beat Fiorentina, allowing the Turin-based team to stretch into fourth place in the standings.

Bologna's Guglielmo Marconi Airport recorded a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase in passengers to 739,284 in March.

In detail, record increases in both passengers on domestic flights at 170,433 or 9.0 percent over March 2023 and passengers on international flights at 568,851 or 9.5 percent over the same month last year. Movements, at 5,381, also grew on March 2023 by 4.9%. On the other hand, air cargo, at 3,737 tons, down 7.1 percent.

Alerion Clean Power closed up 0.9 percent through its indirect subsidiary, Alerion Racari, reported that it has signed an EPC contract with Sunnerg Renewable Service, a Sunnerg Group company, to build a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of about 51.5 MW in Racari, Romania. The plant is estimated to have an annual operating Ebitda of about EUR5.5 million. The total investment value for the construction of the plant is expected to be about EUR35 million.

On the Small-Cap, Fiera Milano closed in the red by 4.6 percent after announcing on Monday that it had approved its 2024-2027 strategic plan, in which it expects, at the end of the period, revenues in the range of EUR255-275 million, Ebitda between EUR120-130 million, and investments of EUR88 million, of which EUR35 million will be borne by Fondazione Fiera Milano for the construction of infrastructure works.

Total cash and cash equivalents are expected to be between EUR151-171 million, of which at least EUR40 million is to be allocated to shareholder remuneration through stable annual dividends and EUR111-131 million can be allocated to growth by external lines.

Beewize--green by 34 percent--reported that it has signed a letter of intent with Mexedia SB and its majority shareholder, Heritage Ventures, regarding a merger between Beewize and Medexia.

With the transaction, Mexedia expects to increase its visibility as well as the liquidity of its stock by moving to a regulated market.

Among SMEs, Altea Green Power - up 3.2 percent - reported Monday that following the co-development agreement for nine Bess Storage plants in Italy, signed with a North American investment fund - its order backlog exceeded EUR150 million, up about 114 percent from the same period in 2023.

Alfonsino -- up 3.6 percent -- announced on Monday that it had signed a new cooperation agreement with SIDI Piccolo, a historic family-owned business associated with the VéGé group and operating in the large-scale retail sector under the Supermercati Piccolo banner. Through this new agreement, Alfonsino announces the extension of its home delivery service to Supermercati Piccolo outlets located in Pomigliano d'Arco and Caserta.

The board of TMP Group - in the red by 26 percent - over the weekend reviewed and approved the draft consolidated financial statements as of December 31, which closed with a loss of EUR1.2 million compared to a net profit of EUR600,000 as of December 31, 2022. In the year under review, consolidated revenues stood at EUR5.6 million, down 12 percent on the previous year.

In New York, the Dow is in fractional green, the Nasdaq is up 0.1 percent while the S&P 500 is just above par.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0851 from USD1.0874 on Friday in closing European equities while the pound is worth USD1.2655 from USD1.2667 on Friday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD90.09 per barrel from USD89.25 on Friday night and gold trades at USD2,329.48 from USD2,293.72 on Friday night.

"While the price of gold has reached another record high and the price of silver is at levels last seen in June 2021, the price of oil has fallen more than a percentage point due to easing tensions in the Middle East, with Israel removing troops from southern Gaza and resumed peace talks with Hamas in Egypt," ING analysts point out.

Tuesday's economic calendar includes at 0745 CEST the Swiss unemployment rate followed at 0800 CEST by German exports, industrial production and Germany's trade balance.

At 1030 CEST the Sentix index of investor confidence is expected. In the afternoon, consumer inflation expectations will come out from the U.S. at 1700 CEST.

In Piazza Affari, the results of Greenthesis and KME Group are expected.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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