(Alliance News) - At mid-day Friday, the major European indexes are in the negative, with Paris marking the biggest decline and Piazza Affari falling below 34,200.
The FTSE Mib is down 0.6 percent to 34,184.96, the Mid-Cap is in the red 0.4 percent to 47,841.40, the Small-Cap gives up 0.1 percent to 28,487.10, and Italy Growth drops 0.1 percent to 7,942.41.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is down 0.2 percent, Paris' CAC 40 loses 0.8 percent and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is down 0.4 percent.
On the macroeconomic front, in Italy, general government net borrowing as a ratio of Gross Domestic Product was negative 2.3 percent in the third quarter from negative 6.3 percent in the same quarter of 2023.
In Germany, The unemployment rate remained stable in December, contradicting expectations of an increase, data released Friday showed.
According to the Federal Labor Agency, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.1 percent last month, the same as in November.
On Piazza Affari's largest-capitalization list, among the few bullish mid-session, Saipem did best of all and advanced 1.2 percent with 16 million pieces changed hands.
Nexi, in the green by 0.5 percent, and Mediobanca, up 0.4 percent, close the podium.
Also rising on the Mib are UniCredit, in the green by 0.3%, and Enel, in fractional green.
Stellantis does worst of all and retreats 3.4 percent. 2024 closed with just over 1.5 million sales, stable compared to 2023 but 19% lower than 2019: nearly 360,000 registrations short.
Stellantis suffering more than the others: in 2024, registrations dropped 10 percent to 454,000 units, with market share down from 32 percent to 29 percent. Fiat, in particular, lost 41 percent, surpassed by Dacia and Renault.
In contrast, Asian groups advanced, with Toyota up 25 percent and Kia and MG each up 32 percent. MG, led by China's SAIC, is spearheading the Chinese expansion, with BYD showing signs of rapid growth while starting from minimal shares.
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena gives up 0.5 percent after announcing that, in line with the funding plan and having received authorization from the European Central Bank, it will exercise on Jan. 22 the full early redemption option on the EUR400.0 million denominated Tier 2 subordinated bond with a coupon of 8.0 percent.
The bonds, fully placed to institutional investors, will be repaid in full at par, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the early redemption date.
On the Mid-Cap, at the top of the list Banco di Desio e della Brianza rises 0.9%, and Ariston Holding is in the green by 1.0%.
MAIRE is in the green by 0.9%, in its second consecutive bullish session. The company reported Thursday that its subsidiary Nextchem has signed a new EUR125 million loan, 70% of the amount of which is backed by SACE Spa's Archimede Guarantee, strengthening its financial capacity to support investments in technological innovation and R&D.
At the bottom, Salvatore Ferragamo gives up 2.0% and records the steepest decline on the list.
Brembo gives up 1.5 percent after completing the acquisition of Öhlins Racing, a company specializing in the production of high-performance suspension for motorcycles and cars.
The value of the transaction corresponds to an enterprise value of USD405.0 million, on a cash and debt free basis. The payment of the consideration was executed using entirely available cash.
Among small-cap companies, Met.Extra Group rises 8.8 percent, albeit with only 1,000 shares traded.
On the other side of the list, Fidia retreats 3.8 percent, with over 1 million shares traded.
EPH is suspended for excess volatility, after a theoretical rise of 32%.
Mondo TV drops 3.5 percent after applying to CLG Capital for the subscription of the fourth tranche of the convertible bond underwritten by the latter.
The tranche concerns the subscription of 10 bonds of EUR125,000 each. After this tranche, two more will remain to be issued, for a maximum of 16 more bonds.
"Although in a general context of difficulties, the company confirms that negotiations to seek ordinary forms of financing, alternative to the convertible bond plan, are actively continuing. To date, these negotiations have not yet materialized, but Mondo TV continues to be committed to finding solutions that can avoid recourse to the subsequent tranches of the convertible bond and limit the dilutive effect resulting from the conversion of the tranches already exercised," the company said.
On the alternative capital market in Piazza Affari, Ambromobiliare is up 14 percent at the halfway mark, consolidating the positive performance of the past 30 days.
AATech is 9.0% in the red, followed by Neosperience, which gives up 10%.
It does worse than all GT Talent, suspended for excess volatility after a theoretical drop of 13%.
PMI announced that it has completed the accelerated bookbuilding process of 608,500 ordinary shares. The shares were subscribed by qualified investors at a price of EUR1.80 each for a total value of EUR1.1 million.
The proceeds from the placement of the new shares will enable the group to meet its current liquidity needs and, partially, for future liquidity needs, with the understanding that the group's total requirements for fiscal year 2025 have been estimated by the board of directors at EUR1.5 million.
In Asia, with Tokyo still closed, the Shanghai Composite finished Friday's trading down 1.6 percent at 3,211.43 while the Hang Seng rose 0.7 percent to 19,760.27.
In New York, the Dow closed Thursday down 0.3 percent to 42,392.27, the Nasdaq lost 0.2 percent to 19,280.79 and the S&P 500 gave up 0.2 percent to 5,868.55.
Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0283 against USD1.0252 on Thursday in closing European equities. The pound is worth USD1.2393 from USD1.2378 last night.
Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD75.72 per barrel from USD76.39 per barrel at Thursday's close. Gold trades at USD2,669.91 an ounce from USD2,671.19 an ounce last night.
Friday's macroeconomic calendar features the manufacturing PMI in the afternoon at 1600 CET from the US, followed by natural gas stocks at 1630 CET.
Then, at 1700 CET, FOMC member Barkin's speech in the U.S. and, in parallel, Bank of Canada Governing Council member Lane's speech are scheduled.
The day closes at 1900 CET, from the US, with the release of data on Baker Hughes drilling rigs.
By Antonio Di Giorgio, Alliance News reporter
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