(Alliance News) - On Friday, major European stock markets are expected to be in positive territory according to IG futures ahead of the release of manufacturing PMI data in some major economies and for the Eurozone.

Thus, futures give the FTSE Mib in the green by 0.1 percent or up 17.5 points after closing 1.1 percent in the red at 27,627.12.

Paris' CAC 40 is expected to be in the green by 12.2 points or up 0.2 percent, Frankfurt's DAX 40 is given in fractional red or down 4.0 points, while London's FTSE 100 is expected in fractional green or up 2.0 points.

The Mid-Cap on Thursday closed down 0.8 percent to 43,638.36, the Small-Cap down 1.2 percent to 29,626.42, and Italy Growth finished in the red 0.6 percent to 9,218.80.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, downward momentum in the auto sector internationally drove Stellantis to the bottom, where it closed 5.4 percent in the red. Also weighing down was the unexpected farewell of CFO, Richard Palmer, a figure known to investors for years, who was replaced by Natalie Knight, who comes from large retail.

Also hurt were Ferrari, which lost 1.1 percent, and Pirelli, which gave up 2.4 percent.

CNH Industrial gave up 0.2% after announcing the sale of its Russian operations for total proceeds of about USD60 million.

Saipem, on the other hand, managed to end the day bullish -- plus 1.5 percent -- thanks to first quarter revenues of EUR2.58 billion from EUR1.82 billion in the corresponding period of 2022. Net income broke even, compared with a loss of EUR98 million in the corresponding period of 2022.

Others in the oil business are in the red, with Eni losing 1.2 percent and Tenaris giving up 0.2 percent.

Iveco Group did well, closing on top with 1.6 percent. On the stock, AKO Capital raised its short position to 0.99% from 0.83% while Citadel Advisors cut its short to 0.48% from 0.57%.

Assicurazioni Generali -- in the green by 0.1 percent -- reported Thursday that it had bought back the previously accepted amount of the EUR1.50 billion perpetual bond repurchase offer with a coupon of 4.596 percent, amounting to EUR499.6 million.

In addition, Generali also issued a EUR500.0 million bond with a fixed rate and coupon of 5.399% maturing on April 20, 2033, listed in Luxembourg and with a spread of plus 240 basis points.

On the mid-cap, Brembo closed 2.3 percent in the red. On Thursday, the shareholders' meeting renewed the board of directors and the board of statutory auditors. Both will remain in office until the approval of the 2025 financial statements.

As for the board of directors, Matteo Tiraboschi was appointed chairman and Daniele Schillaci was confirmed as CEO.

OVS -- in the red by 2.8 percent -- reported Wednesday that it closed the year to January 31, 2023 with net sales at EUR1.51 billion up more than 11 percent from EUR1.36 billion recorded the previous year. In addition, the board of directors resolved to propose to the shareholders' meeting the payment of a dividend for the 2022 financial year of EUR0.06 per share.

Adjusted net income amounted to EUR78.4 million up more than 75 percent from EUR44.8 million recorded in 2021.

Red also for Maire Tecnimont, which closed down 3.2 percent. The company reported Wednesday that some companies within the Sustainable Technology Solutions business unit, which are directly controlled by Nextchem Holding, were awarded several new contracts for technology licenses and engineering services worth a total of about USD90 million.

Brunello Cucinelli's board of directors -- up 0.3 percent -- announced Tuesday that it had reviewed revenues for the first quarter of 2023, having reported 35 percent growth within the different geographic areas and in both sales channels, retail and wholesale.

In detail, net revenues amounted to EUR265.3 million from EUR196.9 million in the same period last year.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore--which closed in the red by 0.9 percent--reported Thursday that it had executed a contract for the sale to PBF Srl of its 18.45 percent shareholding in Società Europea di Edizioni, publisher of the daily newspaper Il Giornale.

The consideration for the transaction, to be settled entirely in cash, is defined as EUR2.3 million.

The sale results in a net gain in the Mondadori Group's income statement of EUR500,000.

On the Small-Cap, Bioera took the top spot with a rise of 11 percent.

Piquadro - in the green by 1.7 percent - reported Wednesday that, in fiscal year 2022-2023, revenues increased 18 percent to EUR175.6 million from EUR149.4 million while, in the fourth quarter alone, they improved 22 percent to EUR48.8 million from EUR40.0 million.

Among SMEs, Farmaè -- in the green by 2.3 percent -- reported Thursday that its revenues rose 46 percent in the first quarter year-on-year to EUR38.8 million from EUR26.5 million in the same period a year earlier.

Monnalisa closed up 3.7 percent. The company reported that it is ready to adopt Blockchain technology with a pilot activity on the Couture line, through the "Track IT Blockchain Project" of ICE - Government Agency for the Internationalization and Promotion of Italian Companies.

Casta Diva Group closed with a plus 7.8 percent after announcing on Thursday a quarterly consolidated value of production as of March 31 that marks a 73 percent increase over the same figure of the previous year to EUR21.2 million from EUR12.2 million.

The backlog - orders to be fulfilled within the year - consolidated as of March 31, stands at around EUR41.6 million.

Gismondi 1754 finished 5.7 percent in the red. It disclosed Wednesday evening that revenues from total sales in the first quarter were nearly EUR4.2 million up 18 percent from EUR3.5 million in the first quarter of 2022.

The board of directors of Estrima - in the red by 3.8 percent - reviewed and approved the company's draft annual financial statements as well as the group's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022, which closed with a net loss of EUR3.1 million from a net loss of EUR1.4 million in 2021.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed in the red 0.2 percent to 28,599.93 and the Hang Seng is giving up 1.1 percent to 20,174.12, while the Shanghai Composite is down 1.4 percent to 3,320.50.

In New York on Thursday, the Dow Jones closed down 0.3 percent to 33,786.62, the S&P lost 0.6 percent to 4,129.79, while the Nasdaq was down 0.8 percent to 12,059.79.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0962 against USD1.0972 at Thursday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2433 from USD1.2455 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD80.95 per barrel USD81.22 per barrel Thursday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,007.95 an ounce from USD2,002.73 an ounce at Thursday's close.

On Friday's economic calendar, the manufacturing, services and composite PMI index is due at 0915 CEST in France.

PMIs are also due for Germany at 0930 CEST, the Eurozone at 1000 CEST, and the UK at 1030 CEST.

At 1430 CEST, Canadian retail sales are due and, at 1545 CEST, US PMIs.

In Piazza Affari, the quarterly results of BB Biotech, Clabo, Sogefi, and TrenDevice are scheduled.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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