(Alliance News) - Piazza Affari trades bullish in the penultimate session of the week, settling around the 28,700 mark, doing better than other European exchanges and continuing the bullish trend seen in previous sessions.

Various accommodative comments by Fed officials caused a worldwide drop in government bond yields as trading rooms await the U.S. inflation figure due out in the early afternoon.

Just on the price index, as shown by data from the Fred platform, run by the St. Louis Federal Reserve in the latest available survey on Oct. 11, the average U.S. inflation expectation for the next five years -- with the 5-year forward inflation expectation rate -- as measured in the U.S. sovereign bond market is moving at the 2.44 percent mark, almost stable from the previous survey.

Also on inflation expectations, the 5-year breakeven marks a value of 2.20 percent, almost stable from the previous survey.

Meanwhile, the release of the Fed minutes, revealed a lack of unanimity regarding a potential interest rate hike. The majority of FOMC members felt that a further increase in the federal funds rate would be appropriate, while some felt that further hikes would not be warranted.

As a result, the FTSE Mib opens up 0.8 percent to 28,729.31, the Mid-Cap advances 0.9 percent to 39,786.85, the Small-Cap is up 0.5 percent to 25,679.82 while Italy Growth is in the green 0.1 percent to 8,057.22.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is up 0.8 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.5 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is advancing 0.6 percent.

On the main list of the Italian stock exchange, best of all is Tenaris, up 2.3 percent, taking the top spot with new price at EUR15.67 after a 0.4 percent decline on the eve of the day.

Also advancing well is Ferrari, which marks a plus 2.5% at EUR289.90 heading for its third session to end with a bullish candle.

Also on the upswing is FinecoBank stock, which marks a plus 2.1%, in position for its third session to close higher.

CNH Industrial - up 0.8 percent - reported Thursday that it had bought back some 190,000 of its own shares on Oct. 2 and Oct. 6, for a total of EUR2.1 million.

Among the few bearish performers, BPER Banca steps back 0.4 percent to EUR2.95 per share, pulling the oars in the boat after two active sessions.

On the cadet segment, El.En. trades well, bringing the bar up 3.7 percent after eve's 0.6 percent decline.

Good trades also on Reply, which scores a plus 3.5 percent positioning the snout toward its third bullish session.

Iren, on the other hand, advances 1.6 percent after announcing Wednesday that it has finalized the acquisition of control of Semia Green, a company active in the circular economy, through its subsidiary Iren Ambiente Toscana. The remainder of the share capital is held by Sienambiente, already a partner in Semia Green and in which the Iren group has a 40 percent stake.

On a negative note, in the narrow group of bearish investors, Mutuionline marks minus 1.4 percent with price at EUR25.00 per share.

On the Small-Cap, Pierrel moves ahead 8.3 percent with price at EUR1.7450. The company on Thursday announced that the Petrone family's reference partner Fin Posillipo, in agreement with Bootes of vice chairman Rosario Bifulco, has launched a total public offering aimed at delisting Pierrel. The tender offer is for cash at EUR1.75 per share on the 13.69 percent free float, for a maximum expected outlay of EUR13.158 million. As of today Fin Posillipo already holds 75.63% of the shares, Bootes 10.68%.

Instead, d'Amico advances 3.6 percent, heading for its sixth bullish daily candle.

Openjobmetis, on the other hand, marks a plus 4.2%, after a 0.5% loss on eve.

Marked selling on Conafi, which gives up nearly 14 percent. High trading volume is reported on the stock, which is close to 60,000 traded, compared to a three-month daily average of about 25,000.

Among SMEs, boost on EdiliziAcrobatica -- up 5.1 percent --, which reported Thursday that it signed 18,590 contracts in the first nine months of the year, up from 12,149 in the same period of 2022 with a 53 percent growth. This result also reflects the growth in the number of customers, which registered a 78 percent increase.

Altea Green Power, on the other hand, marks a plus 5.8 percent, rearing its head again after two sessions among the bearish.

At the tail end, in the rear G Rent gives up 4.9 percent, after 7.3 percent green on eve.

Grifal, on the other hand, falls 2.9 percent, down after eve's 4.4 percent gain.

In New York on European night, the Dow closed up 0.2% at 33,804.87, the Nasdaq finished up 0.7% at 13,659.68, and the S&P 500 finished in the green 0.4% at 4,376.95.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0629 against USD1.0615 recorded at Wednesday's European equities close, while the pound was worth USD1.2311 from USD1.2303 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD86.04 per barrel from USD85.97 per barrel at Wednesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,880.32 an ounce from USD1,872.96 an ounce on Wednesday evening.

Thursday's macroeconomic calendar at 1300 CEST features Fabio Panetta's speech from the ECB board.

At 1430 CEST from the US it will be the turn of unemployment claims and the consumer price index. At 1700 CEST crude oil stocks and the EIA refineries report. At 1730 CEST it will be the turn of the 4- and 8-week Treasury bond auctions, while at 1900 CEST there will be a 30-year maturity auction. Finally, at the same time, FOMC member Bostic will give a speech.

No special events are scheduled in the corporate calendar.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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