(Alliance News) - On Thursday, the Mib index marked a bullish path by placing the point bar above 27,000 -- the highest level since March 10 -- and rising for the fourth consecutive session. Helping, in a broader sense, the listings, is the easing of concerns over stresses suffered by the U.S. banking sector.

Trading rooms, moreover, try to undertake positioning by anticipating moves in the hope that the European Central Bank may adopt a less aggressive tone after the release of new inflation data from across Europe with particular focus, obvs, on Eurozone data to be released later this week.

Meanwhile, on the war front, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin admits that the international community's sanctions against Russia could have "negative consequences in the medium term on the national economy." During a meeting with the government broadcast on state TV, the Russian president expressed if disguised concern about the fate of the country's financial balance.

Thus, the FTSE Mib advances 0.9 percent to 26,967.97.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is picking up 43.2 points, London's FTSE 100 is in the green by 36.00 points, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is advancing 105.00 points.

Among the smaller lists, the Mid-Cap is picking up 1.0 percent to 43,404.06, the Small-Cap is ahead with 0.6 percent to 29,987.69, and Italy Growth is advancing 0.4 percent to 9,380.13.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, Banca Monte dei Paschi takes the top spot, up 4 percent pointing to its third bullish session.

It should be considered, however, that it is a good session for the entire banking sector with Banca Generali advancing 0.9%, while UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo advance 1.5% and 1.9% respectively.

Saipem, meanwhile, rises 2.4 percent, with price at EUR1.36 heading for the fourth session to end on the bullish side.

The board of Poste Italiane -- down 0.1% -- approved its 2022 annual financial report, reporting a profit of EUR1.51 billion from EUR1.58 billion a year earlier. The board proposed the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.45 per share compared to EUR0.59 a year earlier. Total revenues were EUR11.9 billion, an increase of about 6 percent from the previous year.

On the cadet segment, Reply advances 4.5 percent to EUR117.20 per share. Of note, Beremberg initiated coverage on the stock with fair value at EUR144.00 and "Buy" recommendation.

The board of Technogym -- up 2.6 percent -- on Wednesday reviewed and approved the consolidated annual financial report that closed with an adjusted profit of EUR66.1 million, up EUR14.9 million from EUR51.2 million in 2021. The board also proposed the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.25 per share totaling EUR50 million. During the previous fiscal year, the dividend was EUR0.16 per share.

High quarters also for Tod's, which advances 2.1 percent to EUR36.28 following up on eve's gain of 4.4 percent.

Among the bearish, LU-VE is giving up 2.1%, reversing course after three sessions closed among the bullish.

The board of Buzzi Unicem -- down 0.8 percent -- met Wednesday to approve the statutory and consolidated financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2022, in which the company reported a profit of EUR458.8 million down from EUR542.3 million in 2021. The board also approved a proposed dividend of EUR0.45 per share, effective May 24, 2023 with an ex-dividend date of May 22, 2023 and "record date" May 23, 2023.

On SmallCap, Conafi steps up 3.1 percent to EUR0.43 per share pending the results expected later today.

Sole 24 Ore is putting up 3.2% to EUR0.5180 after three negative sessions.

The top of the list, however, is for Netweek, which is posting a plus 7.7% at EUR0.0374 and with accounts due next week.

The board of directors of Trevi Finanziaria Industriale -- up 0.6 percent -- on Tuesday evening reviewed the consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2022, which closed with a loss of EUR19.1 million from EUR53 million in 2021. Total recurring revenues in fiscal 2022 amounted to about EUR569.2 million compared to EUR494.6 million as of December 31, 2021, up about EUR74.6 million.

Among SMEs, Circle is advancing, marking a plus 3.5 percent to EUR4.70 per share. The company reported Tuesday that as of Dec. 31 it reported consolidated production value of EUR10.9 million, up 17 percent from EUR9.3 million in 2021. Net income amounts to EUR830,000 from EUR550,000 in 2021.

Go Internet, on the other hand, rises more than 13 percent to EUR0.2100, bringing its liability on a monthly basis to 30 percent.

IDNTT gives up 5.6 percent. The company reported Wednesday that it ended 2022 with revenues up to EUR9.9 million from EUR8.5 million in the previous year. fiscal year 2022 with a net profit of EUR1.4 million, slightly lower than EUR1.7 million in 2021. Including the accounts of In-Sane, a company taken over in mid-November, pro forma revenues are EUR19.6 million.

In New York, the Dow Jones closed up 1.0 percent, the S&P up 1.4 percent, and the Nasdaq advanced 1.8 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0863 versus USD1.0836 at Wednesday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2345 from USD1.2316 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD78.59 per barrel versus USD79.03 per barrel last night. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,967.00 an ounce from USD1,967.25 an ounce at Wednesday's close.

On Thursday's economic calendar, in the afternoon, at 1430 CET, GDP and unemployment claims will come in from the US.

At 1730 CET, the Italian producer price index for February is scheduled to arrive.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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