(Alliance News) - European financial markets moved higher Friday as investors assessed some new economic data. Among them, consumer confidence in Germany improved heading into March, even as GDP in Europe's largest economy fell 0.4 percent last quarter, double the first estimate that expected a 0.2 percent decline.

Also of note, consumer prices in Japan rose 4.2 percent in January from a year earlier, a level not seen since September 1981, fueled in part by rising energy bills, according to government data shown Friday.

Thus, the FTSE Mib, is up 0.3 percent at EUR27,365.35.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 advances 0.3 percent as does Paris' CAC 40, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 is just above par.

Among Italy's smaller lists, the Mid-Cap is up 0.2 percent to 44,597.48, the Small-Cap is picking up 0.5 percent to 30,201.62, and Italy Growth is in the green 0.1 percent to 9,551.10.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, Telecom Italia is off to a good start, advancing 1.3 percent to EUR0.3066 per share on the day the board will meet to sift through the KKR fund's offer.

Moncler, on the other hand, advances 0.9 percent to EUR58.78 as it awaits results due to be published on Tuesday.

Deutsche Bank raised its target price for Eni to EUR17.00 from EUR15.00. The stock opened trading up 0.5 percent.

A2A's board of directors -- up 0.6 percent -- on Thursday reviewed preliminary consolidated results for fiscal year 2022 reporting Ebitda at EUR1.5 billion up 5.0 percent from EUR1.43 billion in 2021. Net financial position came in at EUR4.26 billion from EUR4.11 billion as of Dec. 31, 2021.

On the MidCap, it pushes Ascopiave well, advancing 1.5% to EUR2.67 per share and rearing its head after four sessions on the bearish side.

Iren, on the other hand, advances with 1.0%, also showing up among the best after the bell rings, breaking the three-session bearish mini-trend.

doValue -- down 8.6 percent -- reported Thursday its main results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2022, reporting a net profit including nonrecurring items of EUR16.5 million from EUR23.7 million in the same period of 2021 and marking a decline of more than 30 percent.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena - in the red by 1.8 percent - on Thursday evening announced that it had successfully completed the placement of an unsecured senior preferred bond issue with a maturity of 3 years - repayable in advance after 2 years - intended for institutional investors

institutional investors, in the amount of EUR750 million.

On the SmallCap, Gequity advances 3.5 percent. The stock - which has not detached its dividend since 2001 and shows an annual volatility of 63 - brings the price to EUR0.0120.

Autostrade Meridionali -- on a volatility auction after rising 13 percent -- announced Thursday that it had approved results as of Dec. 31, reporting a profit for the period of EUR15.8 million from EUR16.0 million in the same period last year. Revenues for 2022 amounted to EUR34.0 million from EUR89.9 million as of Dec. 31, 2021, down 62 percent.

The board of directors of IGD SIIQ -- up 2.6 percent -- on Thursday reviewed and approved the draft annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022, reporting, "as a result, in particular, of greater changes in fair value," as explained in a note, a net loss of EUR22.3 million, which compares with a profit, in 2021, of EUR52.8 million. The board also proposed a unit dividend per share of EUR0.30.

Among the bearish, Esprinet opened down 0.3 percent. Esprinet's board of directors on Thursday reviewed preliminary figures as of December 31, 2022, which closed with revenues from customer contracts standing at EUR4.68 billion, broadly in line with last year's result.

Among SMEs, in the very small group of bearish performers, Fenix Enetertainment gives up 5.7 percent with price at EUR1.33.

Fae Technology gets off to a good start, advancing 3 percent, while Alfonsino, just behind, scores a plus 2.9 percent.

The board of directors of MeglioQuesto - up 0.4 percent - on Thursday evening reviewed the main consolidated and consolidated pro-forma economic and financial operating data as of December 31, with production value in the range of EUR78.0 and EUR81.0 million, a double-digit increase of no less than 20 percent over the 2021 figure of EUR62.5 million.

In New York - on the European night - the Dow closed in the green by 0.3 percent, the Nasdaq up 0.7 percent, while the S&P 500 closed up 0.5 percent.

Among Asian exchanges, the Hang Seng gave up 1.7 percent, the Shanghai Composite gave up 0.6 percent, while the Nikkei closed ahead 1.3 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0592 versus USD1.0583 at Thursday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2013 from USD1.2014 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD83.04 per barrel versus USD81.75 per barrel on Thursday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,825.51 an ounce from USD1,821.68 an ounce at Thursday's close.

On Friday's macroeconomic calendar, two auctions of BTPs with 10- and 5-year maturities will be held at 1110 CET in Italy.

In the afternoon, from the U.S. at 1430 will come the personal spending price index and the consumer spending close index.

From Canada at the same time will come out the manufacturing sector sales and wholesale sales.

At 1600 CET, data on new home sales and the Michigan Confidence Index for February are expected from the US.

Among companies listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, results from Juventus FC, Laboratorio Farmaceutico Erfo, Omer and Sogefi are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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