(Alliance News) - Major European stock markets continue to move higher in mid-day trading Tuesday. In Piazza Affari, where the Mib and the Mid are almost entirely tinged with green, banking stocks and oil stocks, which had taken the biggest losses in recent days, are leading the way.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is up 2.5 percent to 26,522.62.

Among the smaller listings, the Mid-Cap is up 1.9 percent to 43,237.47, the Small-Cap is advancing with 1.5 percent to 30,02699 while Italy Growth is in the green 1.0 percent to 9,290.88.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is up 1.3 percent, Paris' CAC 40 picks up 1.7 percent and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is in the green by 1.6 percent.

On the main list of Piazza Affari, Leonardo -- up 2.6 percent -- announced Tuesday new orders for nearly 40 helicopters of various types and destined for different operators in the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and Europe, with a total value of about EUR470 million.

Saipem is still on top, as it was at the opening, advancing 8.2 percent followed by major banking stocks. UniCredit rises 7.4 percent and is halted for excess volatility, BPER Banca picks up 5.1 percent, FinecoBank recovers with 5.6 percent.

The other two oil stocks also do well, with Tenaris up 4.4% and Eni advancing with 2.9%.

Intesa Sanpaolo--up 3.8%--reported Monday that it purchased 128.2 million of its own ordinary shares between March 13 and March 17.

The shares were taken over at an average price per share of EUR2.2989, for a total value of EUR294.8 million.

Sales of Stellantis -- with the stock opening up 1.7 percent -- in February rose slightly compared to the performance of the European market, where registrations grew by about 12 percent.

As data from ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, showed Tuesday, the giant reported a 1.6 percent increase in sales in February having registered 153,684 cars compared to 151,260 in February 2022, with market share down to 37 percent from 41 percent in 2022.

Terna - in the red by 0.2 percent - reported Monday that electricity demand in Italy totaled 25.1 billion kWh in February, a 2.2 percent drop from the same month in 2022.

Closing out the list are the other two bearish performers, Italgas and Campari, down 0.3 percent and 1.1 percent.

On the Mid, CIR advances 0.9% after announcing Monday the purchase of over 1.8 million of its own ordinary shares between March 13 and 17.

The shares were taken over at an average unit price of EUR0.4000, for a total value of EUR728,453.85.

Zignago Vetro is on par at EUR17.54 per share. The company reported that Biagio Costantini - the company's commercial area director - sold 40,000 shares in the company.

The unit price was EUR17.26 for a total of EUR690,000.

Fincantieri advances 1.4 percent after announcing Friday that it has initiated a new share buyback program to service the company's existing approved incentive plans and in particular the 2021 incentive plan.

The plan will target a maximum number of 10 million shares, corresponding to 0.6 percent of the company's share capital, and will last until April 6, 2023.

Antares Vision rises 3.0 percent. On Monday it announced that it had acquired a 15 percent stake in the share capital of Brescia-based technology start-up Isinnova Srl, for a total of EUR1.5 million.

At the top is Saras, which gains 6.3%.

Tamburi Investment Partners follows and moves ahead 5.8%.

Sesa - up 1.5 percent - announced Tuesday that it has signed a partnership agreement, through its subsidiary Base Digitale Group, to acquire a 51 percent stake in 130 Servicing, thereby strengthening its expertise in advisory services and digital platforms for the financial services market.

On the Small-Cap, Piquadro is still in the upper quarters, rising with 7.5 percent. On Monday it announced that it purchased 16,127 of its own shares during the period from March 13 to March 17, 2023.

The shares were purchased at an average price of EUR1.6964 for a total value of EUR27,357.38.

Also doing well were Monrif up 5.3 percent, and d'Amico International Shipping, in the green by 5.0 percent.

Aeffe picks up 2.3% after announcing Monday that, as part of the new course at subsidiary Moschino, Jeremy Scott is leaving the role of creative director, which he had held since October 2013.

"In view of the expiration of Jeremy Scott's collaboration contract, Moschino has agreed with the designer on a new development path for the brand, which has significantly increased its distinctiveness and visibility internationally over the past 10 years," the company explained in a note.

Esprinet, on the other hand, gives up 0.4 percent. On Monday, it announced that it had entered into a binding agreement to purchase, through its Spanish subsidiary V-Valley Advanced Solutions España SL, 100 percent of the capital of Lidera Network SL.

Among SMEs, Vimi Fasteners--green by 0.8 percent--reported that it had signed an agreement to take over the entire capital of Filostamp Srl, a company that has been active for more than 40 years in the production of fasteners, nuts and bolts and specializes in the manufacture of customer-specific fastening systems.

Softec is not trading yet. The company reported that it ended 2022 with slightly declining revenues but a reduced year-over-year net loss.

The company's revenues fell to EUR5.1 million from EUR5.4 million in the previous year.

The net loss is EUR631,000 and compares with the net loss of EUR1.0 million in 2021. Income from ordinary operations is a negative EUR134,000 compared to a negative EUR645,000 in the previous year.

Portobello gives up 3.2 percent after reporting Monday that it closed 2022 with a consolidated net profit of EUR7.7 million, down 13 percent from the same period in 2021 that closed at EUR8.8 million.

"Excluding the extraordinary component and the related tax effect, it would be EUR14 million with a 60 percent growth over the year 2021," the company note read.

In New York, the Dow closed in the green 1.2 percent to 32,244.58, the Nasdaq rallied 0.4 percent to 11,675.54 while the S&P 500 closed in the green 0.9 percent to 3,951.57.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0744 versus USD1.0722 at Monday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2249 from USD1.2265 on Monday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD74.69 per barrel versus USD72.09 per barrel on Monday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,966.97 an ounce from USD1,977.22 an ounce at Monday's close.

On Tuesday afternoon's economic calendar, a speech by ECB President Lagarde is also scheduled at 1330 CET, while at 1500 CET from the U.S. the data on existing home sales is expected.

At 2130 CET, there will be the data on weekly oil inventories.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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