(Alliance News) - European stock markets are expected to open slightly higher on Friday, following global analogues, thanks to the easing of recession fears in the US that has lifted market sentiment.

Thus, according to IG futures, the FTSE Mib is expected to rise 20.0 points or 0.1 percent after giving up 0.3 percent to 31,741.91.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is expected to be in the green by 7.1 points or 0.1 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is expected up 13.2 points or 0.2 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is expected to open up 15.3 points or 0.1 percent.

On the macro front, the French unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent in the second quarter of the year from 7.5 percent in the previous quarter. The unemployment rate was just above the 7.2% forecast for the second quarter of 2023.

On the Mib on Thursday evening, FinecoBank closed down 2.0 percent at EUR14.28 per share, after eve's green with 3.6 percent breaking five sessions with bearish candles.

ERG, on the other hand, left 1.9% on the parterre after a 1.1% gain on Wednesday evening.

Azimut Holding -- in the red by 0.7 percent -- announced Thursday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with financial institution AMP Limited and advisory services group Entireti through its Australian subsidiary AZ Next Generation Advisory to create a unique and attractive offering for AMP's financial advisors.

Good buys on Generali, which closed up 1.1 percent to EUR22.58 per share following up on eve's 2.0 percent gain.

Good session, among the bullish few, also for Nexi, which finished the run in a positive balance of 1.6%, on its third bullish daily candle.

On the cadet segment, strength on Cembre, which rallied 2.2 percent, on its third bullish session.

The board of GVS -- up 7.7 percent -- on Thursday approved preliminary results for the first half of 2024. Normalized net income stood at EUR22.5 million, up 12 percent from the previous year. During the first half of 2024 GVS achieved consolidated revenues of EUR214.8 million, up 1.6 percent year-on-year at constant exchange rates and 0.7 percent at current exchange rates.

Industrie de Nora left 6.9% on the parterre, in its fourth session with a bearish candle. Of note, a few days ago Envestsra Capital cut its short position on the stock to 0.47 percent from 0.56 percent previously.

For Technoprobe, the loss was 9.2 percent, after a 2.6 percent green in the previous session. The company reported Thursday that it closed the first half with revenues up to EUR241.1 million from EUR196.3 million in the same period a year earlier. However, net income contracted to EUR28.1 million from EUR31.1 million.

On the Small-Cap, Aedes took home 2.9 percent, after a negative balance of 2.8 percent on Wednesday night.

Mondo TV, on the other hand, picked up 2.6 percent, after a 0.8 percent red balance in the previous session.

Servizi Italia -- in the green by 0.5 percent -- reported Thursday that it closed the first half of the year with a consolidated profit of EUR4.2 million from EUR2.9 million as of June 30, 2023. During the period, consolidated revenues stood at EUR147.2 million from EUR143.8 million in the first half of 2023.

Trevi Finanziaria Industriale -- in the red with 8.8 percent -- said Thursday that its board of directors reviewed and approved the group's interim report, half-year ended with a net profit for the year of EUR551,000 down from EUR27.6 million as of June 30, 2023. Group loss, meanwhile, amounted to EUR2.6 million from a profit of EUR23.6 million in the same period of 2023.

Softlab, on the other hand, gave up 6.4 percent, after a 1.9 percent green in the previous session.

Among SMEs, boost on Alfonsino, which closed bullish by 5.4 percent, on its third bullish trend candle.

Askoll Eva advanced 3.2%, after 0.5% red on the eve and with new price in the EUR0.225 area.

Among the many stocks on a negative note, Alfio Bardolla gave up 4.5 percent, the subject of profit taking after two sessions ended in the green and having gathered an aggregate of nearly 16 percent.

ISCC Fintech, on the other hand, gave up 4.7 percent, in its fourth bearish session and setting the price at EUR2.04 per share.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed in the green by 0.8 percent, the Hang Seng rose 1.2 percent and the Shanghai Composite was down 0.1 percent.

In New York on European night, the Dow closed in the green by 1.8 percent, the Nasdaq picked up 2.9 percent while the S&P 500 finished up 2.3 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0922 versus USD1.0906 on Thursday's European stock close while the pound was worth USD1.2761 from USD1.2727 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is trading at USD79.07 per barrel versus USD78.89 per barrel at Thursday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,419.06 an ounce from USD2,416.00 an ounce on Thursday evening.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar features Italian inflation at 1000 CEST. At 1100 CEST, again from Italy, the trade balance report will be released.

In the evening, starting at 1900 CEST, from the U.S. will come the Baker Hughes plants report, while at 2130 CEST it will be time, as usual, for the release of the COT Report.

On the corporate calendar, coming up are results from Dexelance, NB Aurora, Newlat Food, Pharmanutra and Valsoia.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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