(Alliance News) - European exchanges are expected to open lower Tuesday, with markets pricing in "aggressive" comments from U.S. monetary policymakers ahead of key U.S. inflation data Thursday.

New York stock markets closed with mixed performances. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3 percent and the S&P 500 fell 0.1 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.6 percent.

"Fedspeak so far this year has mostly reiterated Chairman Powell's hawkish messages from the December meeting. Weighing on U.S. stock sentiment overnight, officials continued to push back against any thoughts of premature cuts this year, in an attempt to tighten financial conditions or send stocks lower, if possible," commented SPI Asset Management analyst Stephen Innes.

San Francisco Fed chief Mary Daly said rates are likely to exceed 5 percent before the board decides to break the bullish cycle, while Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic pointed to a similar level, but added that they should not be changed for "a long time."

The comments dealt a blow to investors who had hoped for a turnaround later this year.

"We'll just have to maintain our resolve," Bostic told the Rotary Club of Atlanta. "I'm not a pivotal guy. I think we should stop and stay on that level and let monetary policy work."

All eyes are now on the release of consumer price index data on Thursday, which could play a key role in the Fed's next policy meeting later this month.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is giving up 152.00 points after closing up 0.8 percent at 25,385.09 last night.

Among the smaller listings on Monday, the Mid-Cap gained 1.9 percent to 41,634.71, the Small-Cap rose 1.5 percent to 28,873.29, and Italy Growth finished up 0.5 percent to 9,456.54.

The FTSE 100 is marking a bearish reading of 40.50 points, the CAC 40 in Paris is giving up 51.00 points, and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt is giving up 100.00 points.

On the main list in Piazza Affari on Monday, good buying on Ferrari, which moved ahead 3.4 percent. On the stock it is reported that Citigroup has raised its target price to EUR216.00 from EUR250.00.

Telecom Italia rose 5.6 percent, taking the lead in the list.

Banca Mediolanum -- up 1.9 percent -- on Monday reported December trading results of EUR1.70 billion. Total net inflows amounted to EUR1.25 billion. Net inflows in assets under management are EUR710 million, while new loans disbursed are EUR430 million.

Azimut also does well, up 2.3 percent after announcing Monday that it recorded total net inflows of EUR1.2 billion in December 2022. This brings 2022 fundraising to EUR8.5 billion, above the high end of the EUR6 8 billion target for the full year.

Among the few bearish performers, ERG gave up 1.6 percent. On the stock, Morgan Stanley cut its target price to EUR29.00 from EUR31.00. CNH Industrial is the only Agnelli Galaxy stock to close lower, down 2.4 percent.

On the cadet segment, Anima Holding rose 1.2 percent. Net inflows of assets under management-excluding Branch I insurance proxies-were positive EUR253 million in December 2022, for a positive total since the beginning of the year of more than EUR1.6 billion, which reaches EUR2.4 billion including Branch I proxies. At the end of December, the Anima Group's total assets under management stood at more than EUR177 billion.

It does best of all Banca Monte dei Paschi, which rose about 12 percent after two sessions in the red.

"Monte Paschi regains momentum a market capitalization at least higher than the amount of the last recapitalization and is a candidate to be one of the possible good surprises of this 2023. Credit to the reassurances offered by ceo Luigi Lovaglio and Giorgia Meloni's end-of-year words that she wants 'more Italian banking poles,'" commented Francesco Bonazzi, Alliance News columnist.

"Lending a hand to the stock today were the words delivered by Lovaglio's chief executive to the 'Sole 24 Ore' on Saturday. The former Valtellinese number one recalled that after the recapitalization and with the exit of 4,000 employees, with cost reductions of EUR300 million annually, the Rocca Salimbeni bank can really hit the target of EUR700 million in gross profits in 2024."

On the Small-Cap, good buying on algoWatt, which posted a 7.1 percent gain pointing to the third session to end on the bullish side.

The SAES Group-with price at EUR29.35 up 25 percent-on Monday informed that it has signed a binding agreement with the U.S. company Resonetics for the sale to the latter of the Nitinol business and, in particular, its U.S. subsidiaries Memry Corporation and SAES Smart Materials. The scope of the divestment includes SAES' entire production process in the said market, vertically integrated (from Nitinol alloy casting to component production) and located entirely in the US.

Among SMEs, Almawave rose 3.1 percent, reversing course after three sessions among the bearish.

Neursoft did best of all and is flying with a rise of more than 28 percent.

SolidWorld Group -- in the green by 0.9 percent -- on Monday announced the opening of a new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, through the newly formed company SolidWorld Middle East DMCC, which is 60 percent owned by SolidWorld Group and the remaining 40 percent is held by professional operating figures and already shareholders of the Issuer.

"With this initiative we materialize one of the strategic objectives behind the listing," explained Roberto Rizzo, founder and chairman of SolidWorld Group.

Among Asian exchanges, the Hang Seng is giving up 0.4 percent, the Shanghai Composite has given up 0.2 percent, while the Nikkei has picked up 0.8 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0732 versus USD1.0748 at Monday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2157 from USD1.2198 on Monday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD79.31 a barrel from USD80.03 a barrel last night. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,872.45 an ounce from USD1,880.45 an ounce last night.

On Tuesday's economic calendar, at 0900 CET, Spain will release the country's industrial production.

Overseas, at 1200 CET, it is the turn of the U.S. small business optimism report.

At 1400 CET, again in Spain, the consumer confidence index will be released.

At 1500 CET, in the United States, Fed Chairman Powell's speech is expected.

Among companies listed on the Stock Exchange, no particular announcements are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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