(Alliance News) - Major European stock markets Monday opened higher in the first session of July, following their third consecutive quarter of gains, as investors prepare for a week of important data, including several manufacturing and services PMI data, as well as the U.S. employment report.

Last week, data revealed that eurozone inflation fell more than expected in June but remained well above the European Central Bank's 2 percent target, suggesting that Frankfurt officials will maintain their "hawkish" stance.

Thus, the FTSE Mib marks a 0.9 percent rise to 28,495.10.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 rises 0.1 percent, Paris' CAC 40 advances 0.2 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 indicates a 0.3 percent rise.

Among the smaller listings, the Mid-Cap is in the red by 0.1 percent to 42,695.01, the Small-Cap advances with 0.3 percent to 27,119.12, while Italy Growth is in the green by 0.3 percent to 9,101.36.

On the main index of Piazza Affari, good start for Generali, which is up 5.0% with new price at EUR19.56.

Banco BPM -- up 1.9 -- on Monday reported that Moody's improved the outlook on the company's main ratings from stable to positive, confirming its assigned ratings. "The improved outlook reflects an upward pressure on Banco BPM's ratings that is based on the assumption that the achievement of the strengthened profitability and stronger capital position will remain sustained in the future," the company explained in a note.

Iveco Group - up 0.6 percent - announced Friday that, following the finalization of final agreements with Nikola Corporation, its subsidiary Iveco has acquired full and exclusive ownership of the German company resulting from the former Nikola Iveco Europe joint venture, which will take on the name EVCO - Electric Vehicles COmpany.

Among the few stocks on a negative note, Recordati is retreating 0.6 percent, breaking a three-session bullish trend.

On the cadet segment, good buying on Caltagirone, which is advancing 3.0% taking the lead after two sessions closed among the bearish.

Maire Tecnimont -- up 0.6 percent -- announced Friday that it had purchased 548,800 of its own shares in the period between June 22 and June 29. The shares were purchased at an average price of EUR3.377 for a total consideration of EUR1.8 million.

Juventus Football Club - in the money by 0.5 percent - announced that it has reached an agreement with Lille Olympique Sporting Club for the outright acquisition of the right to the sports performance of footballer Timothy Weah for a consideration of EUR10.3 million, payable in two financial years, plus additional charges up to a maximum of EUR1.0 million.

Sanlorenzo, however, gives up 2.0 percent, with new price at EUR38.60 per share after four sessions closed among the bullish.

On the Small-Cap, strength on Risanamento, which scores a plus 8.5% looking for the fifth session in a row to end in the green.

Good buying also on Restart, which advances 8.6 percent after twelve sessions ended among the bearish.

Conafi, on the other hand, rises 4.0% to EUR0.3380. The stock, since the beginning of 2022, marks a liability of about 20 percent.

Among SMEs, DHH pushes ahead 5.7 percent to EUR16.90 per share. The compnay on Thursday reported that first quarter revenues rose 42 percent year-on-year to EUR8.4 million from EUR5.9 million in the same period a year earlier. As the company explained, organic growth was 13 percent, driven mainly by an increase in the IaaS business, the group's main revenue segment, which grew organically by 23 percent during the period. Recurring revenues accounted for about 95% of total revenues. The Balkan countries were the best performers on the organic growth front, with increases of 15 percent in Slovenia, 13 percent in Croatia, 16 percent in Serbia, and 18 percent in Bulgaria.

Alfonsino, meanwhile, advances 2.9%, with new price at EUR0.65 per share, rearing its head again after two bearish sessions.

Allcore, on the other hand, marks a plus 2.2%. The company announced on Friday its intention to extend the temporary suspension of its share buyback operations, in execution of the authorization to purchase and dispose of treasury shares resolved on May 2, 2022 by the shareholders' meeting. Since the start of the program, Allcore has purchased 188,547 ordinary shares equal to 1.3 percent of the share capital for a total value of about EUR400,000.

Among the few bearish performers, in a still uneventful list High Quality Food is giving up 2.9 percent.

In New York on Friday evening, the Dow closed in the green by 0.8 percent, the Nasdaq was up 1.5 percent, and the S&P 500 was up 1.2 percent.

Among Asian exchanges, the Hang Seng trades up 2.3 percent, the Shanghai Composite picked up 1.3 percent, while the Nikkei closed up 1.7 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0915 versus USD1.0916 at Friday's European equities close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2699 from USD1.2712 on Friday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD75.17 per barrel versus USD74.95 per barrel at Friday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,918.76 an ounce from USD1,915.37 an ounce Friday night.

On Monday's economic calendar, from the US will come manufacturing PMI data at 1545 CEST.

On the Business Square calendar, however, no special events are scheduled.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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