(Alliance News) - On Tuesday, major European stock markets confirmed expectations and opened in positive territory--except for the DAX 30--but without momentum as they digest some marcoeconomic data released earlier in the morning and as they await those on ZEW confidence sentiment for the Eurozone and Germany.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is up 0.1 percent to 28,540.53, the Mid-Cap gives up 0.3 percent to 41,248.81, the Small-Cap is in the green by 0.1 percent to 26,798.65, while Italy Growth is in fractional green at 8,780.15.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 on the parity line, Frankfurt's DAX 40 gives up 0.2 percent, while London's FTSE 100 is in the green by 0.1 percent.

In macroeconomic news, Germany's wholesale prices, released Tuesday by the Federal Statistical Office, fell for the fifth consecutive month by 2.7 percent year-on-year in August, following a previous 2.8 percent drop in July.

In Spain, annual consumer price inflation was confirmed at a three-month high of 2.6 percent in August, up from 2.3 percent in July, thanks to a rebound in transport prices to 1.2 percent from a 5.3 percent drop in July, due to fuel and lubricant prices for personal vehicles.

Europe-wide harmonized inflation stood at 2.4 percent in August, up from 2.1 percent in July and in line with preliminary estimates.

Back in Milan, on the main index of Piazza Affari, Saipem takes the top spot and scores a 2.1 percent gain. Of note, the company reported that it has been awarded two new contracts for offshore activities in the Ivory Coast and Italy, worth a total of EUR850 million. Also of note, Capital Fund Management raised its short position on Saipem to 1.12 percent from 1.0 percent.

Stellantis follows, in the green by 1.0% and then Telecom Italia closes the podium with a 0.5% rise.

Eni - in contrast to Saipem's trend - gives up 0.6%, after announcing that it has successfully placed an offering with a total face value of EUR1 billion of senior unsecured sustainability-linked convertible bonds.

Doing well is Unipol, up 0.2 percent, after announcing-along with UnipolSai in the green by 0.1 percent on the Mid-that it had initiated related buyback programs for its own ordinary shares earlier in the day.

Unipol launched a buyback for a total of 385,000 shares, which can be purchased by the company itself and its subsidiary UnipolSai: Unipol's program relates to a maximum of 85,000 shares in the company equal to about 0.1% of its share capital, for a maximum period of 18 months and a spending limit of EUR300 million; UnipolSai's program, on the other hand, relates to a maximum of 300,000 Unipol shares, has a maximum validity of 18 months and a spending limit of EUR100 million.

UnipolSai let it be known that the program is for a maximum number of 850,000 shares, for a maximum term of 18 months and an expenditure limit of EUR100 million.

Sitting on the bottom is Campari - in the red by 3.7 percent - which announced that Bob Kunze-Concewitz is retiring as CEO from April 2024. Matteo Fantacchiotti, Managing Director Asia Pacific, in order to ensure a smooth handover, is appointed Deputy CEO effective immediately and

will take over as CEO as of April 2024.

Bob Kunze-Concewitz will remain on the board as a nonexecutive member.

On the Mid-Cap, Antares Vision gives up about 13 percent after it reported figures for the first half of the year on Monday, in which orders of EUR174 million were reported, up 22 percent from the same period last year.

The loss is EUR7.3 million from one of EUR1.8 million as of June 30, 2022.

ENAV gives up 0.1 percent after it disclosed Friday that it has signed four new contracts through its subsidiaries IDS AirNav and Techno Sky to supply systems to optimize flight data and improve airspace efficiency, with India, Norway, Romania, and Kosovo.

The total amount is about EUR11 million.

Webuild loses 0.6 percent after it reported Thursday that it continues to grow in Australia and expand into segments new to the group. Australian subsidiary Clough won the AUD420 million contract to build the Shiplift at the Port of Darwin on Australia's north coast. The project involves the construction of a modern system for the lifting, ground handling and launching of small and large vessels, which will consolidate the coastal city's role as a major hub for ship maintenance and support services in the region.

On the Small-Cap segment, Newlat Food--green by 3.9 percent--reported on Tuesday a net profit of EUR10.7 million in the first half of the year, up triple digits from EUR2.2 million in the same period last year.

As of June 30, consolidated revenues were EUR413.3 million, up 23 percent from EUR355.5 million.

Beghelli--flat at EUR0.23 per share--reported Monday that it had approved results for the first half of the year in which the company posted a loss of EUR1.6 million, up from a profit of EUR450,000 in the same period a year earlier.

Consolidated sales as of June 30 stood at EUR82.4 million, up 10 percent from EUR74.8 million in the first half of 2022.

Landi Renzo's board of directors -- up 0.2 percent -- reported that the company posted a loss of EUR20.9 million in the first half of the year, worsening from a loss of EUR6.6 million as of June 30, 2022.

Consolidated revenues amounted to EUR151.8 million, up 5.1 percent from EUR144.4 million in the same period last year.

Among SMEs, Spindox climbs 1.0 percent after announcing Tuesday that it has been chosen by Edenred Italy to provide first-level service desk, i.e., support for the resolution of issues that directly impact the operations of internal users regarding the use of ICT applications and systems.

The contract covers a three-year period and has a total value of EUR1.7 million.

In Asia, the Nikkei rose 1.0 percent to 32,776.37, the Hang Seng is giving up 0.3 percent to 18,049.16, and the Shanghai Composite lost 0.2 percent to 3,137.06.

In New York on Monday, the Dow Jones closed in the green by 0.3 percent at 34,663.72, the S&P finished up 0.7 percent at 4,487.46, while the Nasdaq closed in the green by 1.1 percent at 13,917.90.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0721 versus USD1.0745 in Monday's European equities close, while the pound was worth USD1.2482 from USD1.2528 on Monday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD90.88 per barrel versus USD90.35 per barrel at Monday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,941.75 an ounce from USD1,944.75 an ounce on Monday evening.

On Tuesday's economic calendar at 1000 CEST the ZEW index of economic conditions in Germany is released, and in the Eurozone the ZEW index of confidence sentiment is published.

On the bond front, in Italy at 1110 CEST an auction of 12-month BOTs is expected.

From overseas, at 1200 CEST, comes the report on small business optimism, while at 1800 CEST the EIA's near-term energy forecast is expected.

Among publicly traded companies, results are expected from B&C Speakers, Cembre, Circle, Garofalo Health Care, Giglio Group, SAES Getters, and Tamburi Investment Partners, among others.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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