(Alliance News) - On Tuesday, major European stock markets met forecasts and opened in negative territory, except for Milan, where the Mib index began the day slightly higher.

Thus, the FTSE Mib opens in the green by 0.1 percent at 26,361.88.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 opens in the red by 0.4 percent 7,750.94, Paris' CAC 40 gives up 0.1 percent to 7,073.26 and Frankfurt's DAX 40 opens down 0.3 percent to 15,074.92.

On the macro front, Insee--the French national statistics agency--reported Tuesday that the economy's growth slowed in the last quarter of 2022 but avoided contraction.

Gross domestic product in the fourth quarter grew by 0.1 percent compared to the third quarter. It had grown 0.2 percent in the third quarter compared with the second quarter.

In Asia, however, China's factory activity, rose in January after months of contraction, according to official data shown Tuesday, as the world's second-largest economy came back to life after Beijing ended severe Covid curbs.

The non-manufacturing PMI, which includes services and construction, rose to 54.4 in January, well above the 52 points forecast by economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

Among Italy's minor listings, the Mid-Cap opens in fractional red at 43,082.09, the Small-Cap gives up 0.4 percent to 29,477.23 as Italy Growth at 9,554.130.

On the main list of Piazza Affari, UniCredit jumps 7.6 percent after announcing 2022 full-year profit excluding Russia at EUR5.4 billion from EUR3.3 billion in the previous year, "the best result in over a decade," as pointed out by CEO Andrea Orcel.

A2A - in the red by 0.7 percent - reported that it had placed a new EUR500 million "Green Bond" with an 11-year term. The issue registered great interest, receiving orders for about EUR2.2 billion, about 4 times the amount offered.

Campari opens up 0.4 percent. The company bought 570,239 of its own ordinary shares between Jan. 23 and Jan. 27 at an average price per share of EUR9.6582, for a total consideration of EUR5.5 million.

On the Mid-Cap, MFE-MediaForEurope-with A and B shares opening in the red by 1.5 percent and 2.0 percent-announced Monday evening that the boards of directors of MFE and its subsidiary Mediaset España Comunicación SA approved and agreed to sign the joint plan for the cross-border merger by incorporation of MES into MFE.

From a strategic, operational and industrial point of view, this merger, the company explains in a note, "is aimed at the strategic and operational integration of the participating companies, which until now have operated independently in their respective territorial areas, resulting in the creation of a pan-European group active in the media and entertainment market."

Webuild begins the day 2.0 percent in the red. The company announced Monday that it has been awarded the EUR208 million contract to carry out work on the doubling and modernization of Lot 1 of the Ragusa-Catania highway.

Brunello Cucinelli opens in the green by 0.1 percent after the 0.8 percent red on the eve. The company announced on Friday that it purchased 15,883 of its own ordinary shares between January 23 and 26, 2023. The shares were purchased at an average price of EUR73.4120 for a total value of about EUR1.2 million.

Juventus Football Club - in the red by 1.7 percent - announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Leeds United Football Club for the sale, on a temporary basis until June 30, 2023, of the rights to the sports performance of footballer Weston McKennie for a consideration of EUR1.25 million, plus bonuses of up to a maximum of EUR250,000 upon the occurrence of certain sporting goals.

On the Small-Cap, Il Sole 24 Ore opens up 0.4 percent. The socity said Monday that its board of directors approved the appointment of Emilio Bernacchi, head of administration, budget, finance and treasury at the 24 ORE group, as interim manager in charge of preparing corporate accounting documents.

Civitanavi Systems--not yet trading--and PV-Labs, a Canada-based company engaged in the design and manufacture of gyro-stabilized gimbals and advanced ISR&T imaging systems, announced the signing of a binding agreement for CNS to purchase a 30% minority stake in PV-Labs for USD2.5 million.

Caleffi--in the red by 3.6 percent--reported on Friday that its board of directors resolved to purchase from Giuliana Caleffi the remaining 30 percent of the share capital of its subsidiary Mirabello Carrara, a company specializing in the production, purchase and sale of home textiles under its own brands and under license from authoritative fashion brands, and to sign the related purchase and sale agreement.

Among SMEs, Esautomotion opens up 0.8 percent after announcing Tuesday that group revenues as of December 31, 2022 were EUR34.0 million, up 19 percent from 2021 when they were EUR28.6 million.

Clabo opens in the red by 3.4 percent. On Monday it reported that the board of directors reviewed some management data for fiscal year 2022, reporting total consolidated revenues of EUR58.8 million, up 16 percent from the previous year when they amounted to EUR50.8 million.

Tecma Solutions still does not trade. The company announced that it has signed a loan agreement with Intesa Sanpaolo in the amount of EUR2.5 million, with a term of six years and an initial grace period of 18 months.

The loan agreement, in line with the best market conditions, does not include covenants or guarantees other than the benefit of the guarantee from the InvestEU Fund.

Casta Diva Group -- up 1.4 percent -- on Monday reported that its board of directors reviewed the preliminary consolidated revenue figure for fiscal year 2022, not yet audited, which closed at EUR82 million, up 175 percent from EUR29.7 million in 2021.

The board of directors of expert.ai - in the green by 0.7 percent - resolved to partially exercise the proxy given to it by the shareholders' meeting, increasing the share capital for cash and in divisible form, for a total amount, including share premium, of EUR239,974.00, one tranche of which was assigned to Walt Mayo - the company's ceo - by issuing 393,400 new ordinary shares with regular dividend entitlement, with no indication of the par value expressed at a price of EUR0.61 per share.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow closed 0.8 percent in the red at 33,717.09, the Nasdaq gave up 2.0 percent to 11,393.81 and the S&P 500 fell 1.3 percent to 4,017.77.

In Asia, the Nikkei 225 closed down 0.4 percent to 27,327.11, the Hang Seng down 1.0 percent to 21,842.33 and the Shanghai Composite finished 0.4 percent in the red to 3,255.67.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0816 versus USD1.0867 at Friday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2317 from USD1.2374 on Monday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD84.29 per barrel from USD85.24 per barrel on Monday evening. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,906.35 an ounce from USD1,923.90 an ounce last session.

Tuesday's calendar includes, at 1000 the Spanish current account, while at 1030 CET there are UK data on BoE consumer credit, M4 money supply, and mortgage approvals.

At 1100 CET comes Eurozone and Italian GDP.

In the afternoon, at 1400 CET, it is the turn of German inflation, while from Canada comes GDP data.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to redazione@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News IS Italian Service Ltd. All rights reserved.