(Alliance News) - On Tuesday, major European stock markets confirm expectations and open in positive territory, except for the Mib, which trades below the parity line at the start, on a day with few cues on the macroeconomic front.
Thus, the FTSE Mib is in the red by 0.2 percent at 30,128.36, the Mid-Cap gains 0.1 percent to 44,567.81, the Small-Cap rises 0.2 percent to 27,377.66, as does Italy Growth at 8,320.61.
In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.2%, London's FTSE 100 gains 0.1%, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is up 0.2%.
In macroeconomic news, data from the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday showed a sharp decline in UK government borrowing in December.
Public sector net borrowing, excluding public sector banks, was GBP7.8 billion, about GBP8.4 billion lower than a year earlier. This is the lowest December level since 2019.
On the Mib, Monte dei Paschi di Siena topped the opening, rising 1.6 percent. Second best is Saipem, up 1.2 percent. Closing the podium is Campari, up 0.9 percent.
Amplifon gives up 0.1 percent, driven by news of the acquisition of the business of a major Miracle-Ear franchisee in the US. The acquired network, owned by three different companies -- Hearing Pro Inc,, Las Davis Enterprises Inc, and MiracleEar Centers of Arkansas LLC -- includes about 50 outlets located in four states, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri, with annual sales of about USD20 million and about 85 employees. Miracle-Ear is the brand through which Amplifon operates in the U.S. retail market, through direct and franchise stores.
On the bottom goes Hera, which gives up 1.6 percent. The company announced Monday that a new cogeneration plant at Cafar in Gatteo will be built later this year for decarbonization and energy efficiency by Hera Servizi Energia, the group's ESCo.
The plant will be able to produce 12,000 MWh/year of electricity, or 80 percent of the plant's total needs, and 6,600 MW of hot water, or 89 percent.
On the cadet segment, Salvatore Ferragamo rises 2.1 percent after announcing Monday that it has appointed di Pierre La Tour as Group CFO, effective March 18, 2024.
Webuild gives up 1.1 percent after announcing Sunday that it has signed, in a joint venture with Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada, a contract with a total estimated value between approximately EUR700 million and EUR1.3 billion for the development and construction of the "Pape Tunnel and Underground Stations" section of the Ontario Line. The final actual value will be determined based on the executive design, which is included in the contract.
Credito Emiliano -- up 0.1 percent -- announced Monday that it has successfully completed the placement of promissory notes under Italian law, totaling EUR200 million.
Juventus FC rises 1.0 percent after announcing Monday that it has acquired outright the rights to the services of Tiago Emanuel Embalò Djalo from Lille.
Djalo arrives in Turin for a fee of EUR3.6 million, plus ancillary charges of EUR1.5 million and bonuses of EUR2.6 million in case of certain sporting goals.
Among the smallcaps, Sesa rises 1.0 percent after announcing Monday that it has acquired through Var Group Spa - a wholly owned subsidiary of Sesa - a 51 percent stake in SmartCAE Srl, which will be integrated into the Var4Industries business unit, thereby strengthening expertise and software solutions for the engineering sector.
SmartCAE develops engineering software solutions on Siemens Industries Software platforms.
Great Journeys rises 0.2 percent after announcing Friday that its board of directors approved the draft financial statements ending Oct. 31, 2023, with an operating profit of EUR2.8 million from a loss of EUR140,000 in the same period last year.
Among SMEs, Gismondi gives up 4.0 percent after releasing on Monday consolidated management sales results for the fourth quarter of EUR3.8 million, down 15 percent from EUR4.4 million for the same period in 2022. The drop, the company explained, was mainly attributable to a decline in sales on wholesales Europe in the period and special sales, which had performed well in previous quarters.
Total revenues for 2023, on the other hand, amounted to EUR14.3 million and were in line with the previous year's result of EUR14.0 million.
First Capital -- not yet affected by trading -- announced Monday that it had approved the group's reorganization project, "which will allow it to improve the operations and structure of its core business," a note said, through the transfer of holdings in listed companies to its subsidiary First SICAF Spa. The latter's shareholders' meeting also approved a EUR50 million capital increase.
Growens, which does not yet trade, reported Monday that the Beefree business unit has appointed Justine Jordan as Head of Strategy & Community.
In Asia, the Nikkei closed in the red 0.1 percent to 36,517.57, the Hang Seng was in the green 2.6 percent to 15,353.98, and the Shanghai Composite closed up 0.5 percent to 2,770.98.
In New York on European night, the Dow closed in the green 0.4 percent to 38,001.81, the Nasdaq finished up 0.4 percent to 15,360.29 while the S&P 500 gained 0.2 percent to 4,850.43.
Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0901 against USD1.0888 recorded at Monday's European stock close, while the pound was worth USD1.2738 from USD1.2717 last night.
Brent crude is worth USD80.24 per barrel versus USD79.69 per barrel at Monday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,031.60 an ounce from USD2,023.57 an ounce last night.
Tuesday's macroeconomic calendar from the US includes an auction of one- and two-year Treasury bonds between 1730 CET and 1900 CET, while at 2230 CET it will be time for the release of the weekly oil stocks report.
No particular announcements are expected among the companies in the Piazza Affari.
By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter
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