(Alliance News) - Piazza Affari trades higher Thursday, above 25,670, the highest in nearly 11 months and extending gains for the second consecutive session.

Investors await U.S. consumer price data later in the day, which should help Fed policymakers decide on a slowdown in the pace of interest rate hikes at their next meeting.

In macro news, in Europe's top economy, Germany, after anemic sales in 2022, the German auto industry association said Wednesday that it expects only a slight recovery for the domestic car market this year. With supply chain bottlenecks loosening, the VDA said it expects a 2 percent growth in new car sales in Germany this year, to 2.7 million vehicles.

Thus, the FTSE Mib marks a gain of 0.5 percent to 25,674.22.

The FTSE 100 rises 0.6 percent, Paris' CAC 40 advances 0.7 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 marks a 0.5 percent gain.

Among the smaller lists last night, the Mid-Cap is up 0.2% to 41,698.37, the Small-Cap is up 0.3% to 29,084.44, and Italy Growth is up 0.1% to 9,494.00.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, Iveco marks a rise of 3.6 percent. Iveco Group NV confirmed Wednesday that Iveco Bus, the group's brand, has signed a three-year framework agreement for the supply of up to 150 E-WAY full electric city buses to Busitalia, the bus company of the FS Italiane Group that operates mainly in local public transport services, directly and through subsidiaries. It will represent, Iveco adds, the largest E-WAY city bus order to date in Italy.

Enel moves ahead 1.5 percent, on the heels of Wednesday's close ahead 1.7 percent.

Good buys also on Telecom Italia, which advances with 3.2 percent after eve's setback with the same percentage. The stock had previously come from seven straight sessions on the bullish side.

Eni -- up 0.8 percent -- reported that the first bond offering tied to its sustainability goals will start on Jan. 16. The bonds will have a term of five years and a total value of EUR1 billion, which can be doubled in case of excess investor demand.

On the bearish side, Interpump gives up 2.7 percent, after a 1.9 percent green in the previous session.

DiaSorin, on the other hand, gives up 1.8 percent, after a 0.3 percent gain in the previous session.

On the Mid-Cap, it makes the big noise from the sounding of the bell Saras, which moves ahead 3.6 percent to EUR1.31 after losing with 1.5 percent in the previous session.

Good buying also on Illimity bank, which marks a 2.6 percent rise aiming for the seventh session to end among the bullish.

Double target price hike for Brunello Cucinelli by Société générale and Goldman Sachs, with the shares on par at EUR68.25.

At the tail end, Seco retreats 3.1 percent. The company on Wednesday disclosed that it had processed its pre-closing revenues for fiscal year 2022, which amount to EUR200 million, up 78 percent from 2021 and in line with the official guidance communicated to the market last April. Organic growth was 43%, while like-for-like growth was 36%.

On the Small-Cap, good momentum on ePrice, which scores a plus 11%, although it should be noted how the shares cost EUR0.0085 and the stock has an annual volatility of 126.

On the other hand, Autostrade Meridionali rises 5.2 percent, after a 1.3 percent loss on the eve.

Netweek, on the other hand, gives up 4.4 percent, placing it at the bottom of the list, after a 1.5 percent gain on the eve.

Digital Bros, on the other hand, gives up 3.9 percent after eve's green of assets.

Among SMEs, ILLA rises 25 percent after hitting its 52-week low of EUR0.002 earlier in the day. The stock's volatility on a year-to-date basis marks 161.

Askoll EVA trades up 4.3 percent after it reported Wednesday evening that it has received a new order from customer Cooltra, a company that operates in sustainable two-wheeled mobility in Europe with a fleet of more than 20,000 vehicles. The value of the order is about EUR1.3 million.

In the red, Energy gives up 4.4 percent after a 4.6 percent gain in the eve.

Grifal, on the other hand, falls 4.2%, in the midst of profit taking after yesterday's surplus of more than 18%. The company announced that it has reached an agreement with José Neves Group to produce cArtù-branded corrugated board in Portugal through the joint venture Seven cArtù Lda.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow closed in the green by 0.8 percent, the S&P 500 rose 1.3 percent, and the Nasdaq gained 1.8 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0762 versus USD1.0751 at Wednesday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2174 from USD1.2129 last night.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD83.34 per barrel from USD79.94 per barrel last night. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,882.11 an ounce from USD1,880.30 an ounce last night.

On Thursday's economic calendar, in Italy, at 1110 CET, there will be auctions of BTPs with three- and seven-year maturities.

At 13300 CET, comes the German non-seasonally adjusted current account.

Overseas, at 1430 CET, it is the turn of the U.S. Continuing Unemployment Claims, Consumer Price Index, Initial Jobless Claims and Average Unemployment Claims.

Among the companies listed in Piazza Affari, Unieuro's results are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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