(Alliance News) - On Friday, major European stock markets closed in negative territory.

"While the Nasdaq 100 is touching new all-time highs, European stock indexes posted their second, or in the case of the FTSE 100 their third, weekly loss since the beginning of the year. Expectations of a rate cut postponed until the second half of the year had a more negative impact on European stocks, whose economies appear less healthy than their U.S. counterparts. In the U.K., retail sales fell the most in nearly three years, while existing home sales in the U.S. hit a 13-year low at a time when U.S. consumer sentiment jumped to 2021 highs ahead of next week's BOJ, BOC and ECB interest rate decisions," explained Axel Rudolph, senior market analyst at IG.

In addition, "heightened tensions in the Middle East led to a third consecutive day of gains for oil prices, while gold prices rose only marginally for the second consecutive day as flight-to-quality flows to the precious metal diminished and greenback gains extended."

Thus, the FTSE Mib closes 0.8 percent in the red at 30,098.86, the Mid-Cap gives up 0.5 percent to 44,090.45, the Small-Cap drops 0.9 percent to 27,338.70, and Italy Growth ends 0.3 percent in the red at 8,215.06.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 ends in a tie, Paris' CAC 40 ends down 0.4 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 gives up 0.1 percent.

On the Mib, Eni closes down 1.1 percent after announcing that it has signed an agreement with KazMunayGas, in Rome, regarding the innovative 250 MW gas-renewable hybrid power plant project in the city of Zhanaozen, Mangystau region, Kazakhstan.

In addition, LG Chem and Eni's Enilive announced Friday the signing of the joint venture agreement, which is another step toward the final investment decision for a new biorefinery project in South Korea.

The agreement was signed in Rome by Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi and LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-cheol.

Telecom Italia--up 0.5 percent in closing--reported Thursday that the board of directors met for an update on ongoing activities and to define the steps to be taken in relation to the renewal of the board of directors, which will expire with the approval of the financial statements to Dec. 31, 2023.

In view of this renewal, "in compliance with the recommendations of the Corporate Governance Code of Borsa Italiana" and "in light of the outcomes of the Board Review," the board considers it appropriate to reduce the number of its members, from the current 15 to nine.

UniCredit gives up 0.6 percent in closing after announcing Thursday its 2030 interim target for the steel sector, which is part of the bank's commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050 of its loan and investment portfolio.

On the cadet segment, Webuild -- in the green by 0.4 percent -- announced Wednesday that it will carry out interventions for the EUR4.7 billion Trojena ski destination in Saudi Arabia.

This is a "unique infrastructural intervention to create in a desert area a resort of the future with dams, a lake, and iconic architectural works," the company announced.

Maire Tecnimont gives up 1.5 percent after reporting Wednesday that its subsidiary Tecnimont has been awarded a front-end-engineering design contract for a green ammonia plant in Norway.

The contract was awarded by Fortescue, a global company active in green technologies, energy and metals.

Gamma Intermediate announced Thursday that it had completed the placement of 16 million ordinary shares in Lottomatica--green by 4.4 percent--equivalent to 6.4 percent of the latter's share capital.

The shares were sold at EUR9.50 each, for a total consideration of EUR152 million. After the accelerated book building transaction, Gamma now holds 65.4 percent of Lottomatica's capital.

Among smallcaps, WIIT - in the red by 2.0 percent - reported Thursday that it has obtained a EUR10 million loan from Intesa Sanpaolo Spa, backed by a green guarantee from SACE.

The financing will support the company's pursuit of its environmental goals - WIIT4Climate - specifically, for the purchase of new servers, storage and software. Indeed, the exponential increase in digital traffic volumes is forcing ICT companies to adopt energy-efficient solutions and move toward the production and procurement of energy from renewable sources.

BF -- up 0.3 percent -- announced Thursday that a memorandum was signed between BF International Best Fields Best Food Limited and Agrofirma TNK LLP to launch a strategic partnership designed to develop the agricultural sector in Kazakhstan.

Autostrade Meridionali lost 52 percent after it announced Thursday that the board of directors positively evaluated the company's voluntary liquidation and the partial distribution of the extraordinary reserve for about EUR30 million.

The decision, the document says, "was made following the takeover from April 2022 of the new concessionaire in the management activities of the Naples-Pompei-Salerno freeway section, having substantially settled the items arising from the previous management of the freeway section and in the absence of further business opportunities."

Safilo rises 3.1 percent after announcing Thursday that it, along with Levi's, has renewed its global license agreement for Levi's-branded eyewear until the end of 2029.

Among SMEs, Yolo Group - in the red by 8.3% - let it be known Thursday that starting tomorrow the position of investor relator will be taken over by Francesco Grieco, the company's former Chief Financial Officer, replacing Roberta Pazzini, who gave up the position in order to embark on a new and different career path.

Racing Force gives up 0.4 percent after announcing Thursday its wide-ranging partnership with Team Brady, owned by U.S. football star Tom Brady, which from this year will race in the new UIM E1 World Championship, the first electric powerboat series. For this racing endeavor, Team Brady has chosen OMP, Bell Racing and Racing Spirit products, the group's brands.

Sia--which was not affected by the exchanges--reported Thursday that it had successfully participated in a tender called by a leading multinational company operating in the power generation and distribution sectors for the assignment of the real estate business line dedicated to the redevelopment of Italian real estate assets.

expert.ai rises 0.3 percent after reporting Thursday that it won the public tender called by Consip to digitize health care.

In New York, the Dow is in the green 0.4 percent to 37,634.58, the Nasdaq rises 0.7 percent to 15,154.20 and the S&P 500 gains 0.5 percent to 4,803.88.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0882 versus USD1.0863 recorded at Thursday's European stock close, while the pound is worth USD1.2679 from USD1.2685 last night.

Brent crude is worth USD79.15 per barrel versus USD78.61 per barrel at Thursday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,029.60 an ounce from USD2,014.35 an ounce last night.

Monday's macroeconomic calendar opens at 0215 CET with the PBoC's preferred interest rate data.

At 0900 CET in Switzerland, M3 money supply data are released.

Overseas, at 1600 CET, from the US comes the data on the predictive index.

On the bond front, the results of an auction of French 3-, 6- and 12-month BTPs are expected in France at 1455 CET.

From the U.S., at 1730 CET, it is time for the results of 3- and 6-month Treasury bond auctions.

Among companies listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, no particular announcements are expected.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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