(Alliance News) - European stock markets are mostly going for a bullish opening Friday, according to the IG futures market. Also pushing the stock markets is optimism after data from the planet's second largest economy, China, where the services PMI rose to 55.0 in February from 52.9 in the previous month, data released by Markit Economics showed Friday.

This was the second consecutive month of expansion in services activity and the strongest pace since last August.

Among European economic data, however, it is reported that Germany's trade surplus increased to EUR10.8 billion in January from EUR5.4 billion a year earlier as released Friday by the Federal Statistical Office. Exports increased 12.2 percent year-on-year to EUR125.2 billion, while imports rose 7.7 percent to EUR114.4 billion.

Thus, the FTSE Mib, after closing up 0.3 percent to 27,397.60 last night, is expected up 157.5 points or 0.6 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 rises 21.20 points, Paris' CAC 40 gains 25 points, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is down 6.00 points.

Among the smaller indices last night, the Mid-Cap closed down 0.1 percent at 44,726.18, the Small-Cap gained 0.1 percent to 30,392.59, as did Italy Growth at 9,402.77.

Last night on the main list, Amplifon -- up 4.1 percent -- on Wednesday approved its draft operating budget as of December 31, 2022 reporting record revenues at EUR2.12billion up 8.8 percent at current exchange rates and 6.8 percent at constant exchange rates from EUR1.95billion in 2021. Net income on a recurring basis is EUR183.3 million, up 4.6 percent from EUR175.2 million recorded in 2021. The board also proposed a dividend of EUR0.29 per share, up nearly 12 percent from EUR0.26 per share in 2021, with a pay-out of more than 36 percent of consolidated net income per share.

CNH Industrial - in the green by 0.3 percent - announced Wednesday that between Feb. 20 and Feb. 24, 2023, it purchased 622,807 of its own shares. The shares were taken over at an average price of about EUR15.46 for a total of EUR9.6 million.

Moncler rises 1.1% to EUR59.00. On the stock it is mentioned that Deutsche Bank raised its target price to EUR69.00 from EUR63.00.

On the cadet segment, Brembo closed 2.6 percent in the red after announcing Thursday that it reported record revenues in the year ended December 31, 2022, at EUR3.62 billion from EUR2.77 billion, marking a 31 percent increase over the same period last year. Net income amounted to EUR292.8 million from EUR215.5 million, up 36 percent from December 31, 2021. The company proposed a gross ordinary dividend of EUR0.28 for each of the ordinary shares outstanding on the ex-dividend date from a dividend of EUR0.27 a year earlier.

Piaggio & C. closed flat after reporting Thursday that it ended 2022 with net income up 41 percent to EUR84.9 million from EUR60.1 million a year earlier. Revenues grew 25 percent, to EUR2.09 billion from EUR1.67 billion, with 625,000 vehicles sold during the year, up 17 percent from 536,000 registered in 2021.

The board of Maire Tecnimont -- up 1.7 percent -- on Wednesday evening reviewed and approved the group's draft budget for 2022, which with a consolidated net profit of EUR90.4 million, up more than 12 percent from the previous year. The board approved the proposal regarding the allocation of the profit for the year and dividend distribution totaling EUR40.7 million, with a unit dividend of EUR0.124. Maire Tecnimont Group revenues amounted to EUR3.46 billion, up 21 percent on the previous year.

Carel Industries gave up 0.6 percent after reporting Thursday that it ended 2022 with net income up 27 percent year-on-year to EUR62.1 million to EUR49.1 million a year earlier. Consolidated revenues amounted to EUR544.9 million compared to EUR420.4 million as of Dec. 31, 2021, up 30 percent. Excluding the scope change related to the consolidation of acquisitions made in the past 18 months of EUR37.1 million and the positive foreign exchange effect of EUR12.9 million, the increase would have been 18 percent.

On the Small-Cap, Gefran gave up 2.4 percent after announcing Thursday that it had finalized the sale of the Drives business to Brazilian group WEG.

Gefran India Private, an Indian subsidiary of the Gefran Group, has signed an agreement with WEG Industries India Private, an Indian subsidiary of the WEG Group, for the sale of the related business in the amount of EUR675,000 out of an overall total of EUR23 million in the agreement for the sale of the Drives business. The effective date of the agreement is i March 1, 2023 and is the last step in the transaction.

DeA Capital -- in the green by 1.7 percent -- reported Tuesday that Nova had risen to nearly 98 percent of the company's capital at the close of the tender offer period launched by Nova. Nova will now pay EUR1.50 per share, for a total consideration of EUR113.6 million.

Among SMEs, EdiliziAcrobatica - up 2.2 percent - announced Thursday that it has signed a binding contract to acquire 51 percent of the share capital of Enigma Capital Investments, a Dubai-based holding company under Emirates law that heads a group active in the Middle East in construction, "rope access," residential and commercial building cleaning services, and facility management services. The agreement stipulates that, upon closing of the acquisition, EDAC will acquire 51 percent of Enigma Capital's shareholdings, which will be sold by the current shareholders, individuals residing in the United Arab Emirates, who hold a majority stake in Enigma Capital, against payment on the date of closing of a provisional price of AED28.3 million, or approximately EUR7.2 million.

Medica -- flat at EUR24.20 -- on Wednesday evening announced that its subsidiary Medica USA Inc has signed a definitive agreement with Evoqua Water Technologies, a company active in mission-critical water treatment solutions, to buy assets to produce blood filters and water filters. Evoqua will retain distribution rights to the water filtration product line.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow closed up 1.1 percent, the Nasdaq rallied 0.7 percent, and the S&P 500 rallied 0.8 percent.

Among Asian exchanges, the Hang Seng is rising 0.7 percent, the Nikkei is picking up 1.6 percent, and the Shanghai Composite is advancing 0.5 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0616 versus USD1.0605 at Thursday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.1978 from USD1.1952 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD84.55 per barrel versus USD84.75 per barrel on Thursday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,842.92 an ounce from USD1,843.95 an ounce at Thursday's close.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar sees, at 0845 CET, the arrival of the French industrial production data.

Between 0915 CET and 1030 CET, the Composite and Services PMI for Italy, Eurozone, Spain, Germany, France and the United Kingdom are published.

Also in the Eurozone, at 1100 CET comes the Producer Price Index.

In the afternoon, overseas, at 1545 CET comes the Composite PMI index for the United States and the ISM index for February.

Among the companies listed in Piazza Affari, Innovatec's results are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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