(Alliance News) - On Thursday, major European stock exchanges still trade in negative territory, awaiting U.S. GDP data this afternoon and the core PCE index on Friday.
As a result, the FTSE Mib is in the red 0.6 percent to 30,189.75, the Mid-Cap gives up 0.5 percent to 44,142.76, the Small-Cap rises 0.5 percent to 27,651.46, and Italy Growth gives up 0.2 percent to 8,101.30.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 gives up 0.5 percent, as does Paris' CAC 40 and Frankfurt's DAX 40.
In macroeconomic news, interrupting the positive economic phase that has been in place since August, industry producer prices fell again on a monthly basis. The main contributors are prices in the energy sector, which recorded new declines after increases observed since July. In detail, industry producer prices fell 0.9 percent on a monthly basis in November from a 1.5 percent increase in October.
On an annual basis, industry producer prices fell about 13 percent in November from a 9.5 percent decline in the previous month.
On the Mib, ERG rises 1.2 percent. The company announced Thursday the signing of a major agreement with Apex Clean Energy Holdings, a leading U.S. independent clean energy developer, to create a strategic partnership with a mission to manage a portfolio of wind and solar plants already in operation and potentially develop them. The consideration for the acquisition of the 75% majority stake is USD270 million.
Eni gives up 0.1 percent after announcing Thursday that Plenitude has strengthened its commitment to the energy transition through the entry of Energy Infrastructure Partners, a fund specializing in Renewables and Energy Transition, as a minority shareholder.
EIP joins Plenitude by acquiring a stake of up to 9 percent, through subscription to a capital increase, for a total amount of up to EUR700 million, which values Plenitude's post-entry equity at around EUR8 billion. Taking debt into account, Plenitude's Enterprise Value resulting from the transaction is more than EUR10 billion.
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena - down 0.3 percent - announced Wednesday that it has strengthened its leadership in the agrifood sector with a new digital collection and payment solutions offering developed together with Nexi - down 0.1 percent - for wine and agritourism businesses. This initiative is part of Banca MPS's broader strategy to support the agrifood, agricultural-recreational and dop economy sectors, confirming its historical focus on the needs of the primary sector, a key asset of the country's economy.
Stellantis gives up 0.8 percent after ACEA's November data showed, for the group, a 7.3 percent drop in sales in Europe compared to November 2022. In the European market, however, registrations were up 6.7 percent compared to November 2022.
On the Mid-Cap, Fincantieri rises 0.2% after reporting Thursday that Vard, the company's Norwegian subsidiary, has signed a contract to design and build a cable-laying ship for Prysmian, which is in the red 1.0% on the Mib.
The value of the contract is EUR320 million.
Sesa is in the red by 0.9%. The company announced Tuesday that it had approved results for the six-month period ended October 30 with a net profit of EUR41.6 million from EUR41.1 million in the same period a year earlier. Adjusted net income attributable to the group was EUR50.1 million from EUR45.9 million as of Oct. 30, 2022, up 9.1 percent year-on-year. Revenue and other income grows 15 percent to EUR1.50 billion from EUR1.31 billion in the same period 2022.
Maire Tecnimont rises 0.9 percent. The company announced Wednesday that Conser, licensor of biodegradable plastics technologies and a subsidiary of Nextchem, a Maire Group company, has been awarded by a major customer the licensing of the technology and the supply of the catalyst as part of a larger project located in northwestern China.
On the Small-Cap, Greenthesis gives up 2.3 percent after announcing Thursday that it has finalized its entry, with 40 percent, into a newco called GKSD Green Solutions with partner GKSD Srl, a company belonging to the San Donato Group.
Openjobmetis gains about 25 percent. The company's board of directors met Thursday to review the communication received from Groupe Crit regarding the signing of memorandum of understanding for the direct and indirect purchase of all OJM shares held by Omniafin Spa, MTI Investimenti and Plavisgas.
Groupe Crit's purchase of the shares would be carried out at a price of EUR6.5 per OJM share and would result in the company holding a total stake of approximately 57.7 percent of OJM's share capital and approximately 53.6 percent of the voting rights.
Based on the number of OJM shares currently outstanding, the consideration implies an equity value of OJM of about EUR203.0 million.
Bioera gives up more than 21 percent. The company reported Wednesday that RSM's auditors said they were unable to express an opinion on the company's half-yearly report.
Underlying RSM's inability to express an opinion on Bioera's accounts are several issues, such as impairment of the auditor's independence, as a result of non-payment of fees related to services rendered; the use of the going concern assumption, in relation to which the auditors assert that they have not acquired sufficient and appropriate evidence on which to base their opinion; and the valuation of the investment in Splendor Investments SA, in relation to which RSM believes sufficient and appropriate evidence has not been provided to support the carrying value.
FILA -- in the green by 0.9 percent -- reported Wednesday that the listing of its Indian subsidiary DOMS Industries Ltd on the National Stock Exchange of India has been successfully completed.
DOMS' shares were placed at INR790 each, or about EUR8.64 per share, which is the top of the identified share valuation range.
Among SMEs, Cyberoo - in the green by 1.0 percent - announced Thursday that it will "ensure the cybersecurity of one of the main business consulting companies present in Italy."
FOS is still not trading. The company announced Wednesday that it is leading the R&D project "Demetra: a systemic and integrated approach based on aquaponics and waste valorization for the creation of a pilot food system."
The value of the project is EUR5 million, of which EUR2.5 million is funded by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy through the MISE call.
In New York,the Dow closed 1.3 percent in the red, the Nasdaq gave up 1.5 percent as did the S&P 500.
Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0940 against USD1.0955 recorded at Wednesday's European stock close while the pound is worth USD1.2629 from USD1.2659 on Wednesday evening.
Brent crude is worth USD79.68 per barrel versus USD80.05 per barrel at Wednesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,044.85 an ounce from USD2,034.30 an ounce on Wednesday evening.
Thursday's macroeconomic calendar includes, from the US at 1430 CET, continuing unemployment claims, PCE price index, and GDP.
At 1730 CET a four- and eight-week Treasury bond auction is scheduled while at 2230 CET the Federal Reserve's weekly balance sheet will be released.
By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter
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