(Alliance News) - The main Milanese index closed bullish in the third session of the week, with the bluechip list raising the bar above 30,300 points, on new highs since 2008, as traders try to assess the outlook for monetary policy and await further clues, although markets now take Fed and ECB rate confirmations for next week's meetings as a given.

The day's data included how Eurozone retail sales rose again on a monthly basis and slowed the pace of decline on an annual basis in October, as released by Eurostat on Wednesday. These, advanced 0.1 percent from the previous month, after falling 0.1 percent in September. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales fell 1.2 percent after falling 2.9 percent in the previous month.

The FTSE Mib closed up 0.8 percent to 30,326.29, the Mid-Cap closed up 0.7 percent to 42,340.92, the Small-Cap gained 0.8 percent to 26,493.71, and Italy Growth closed up 0.2 percent to 8,017.24.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 closed up 0.3 percent, Paris' CAC 40 picked up 0.7 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 closed ahead 0.8 percent.

On the main list of Piazza Affari, the 'buy' side prevailed markedly on DiaSorin, which moved ahead 5.2 percent, on the heels of the eve's green closed with a plus 2.4 percent.

Interpump, on the other hand, picked up 4.2 percent, on the heels of Tuesday's gain, albeit with a timid plus 0.4 percent.

Banca Monte dei Paschi raised the bar by 2.5 percent, with new price at EUR3.39. The stock during the session updated its 52-week high to EUR3.44. Of note, Psquared Asset Management cut its short to 0.36 percent from 0.70 percent previously.

Good buying also on Mediobanca, with the balance showing a plus 2.8% after two sessions in a row among the bearish.

Among the bearish few is Tenaris, which contracted 1.8%, in its third bearish session.

Eni, on the other hand, gave up 1.2 percent. The company disclosed Wednesday that it had purchased 4.9 million of its own shares between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, for a total value of 75.0 million. Subsidiary Saipem, on the other hand, left 2.2 percent on the parterre.

On the Mid-Cap, Alerion advanced 4.4 percent after 0.6 percent in the previous session. The company, which is regularly continuing with its buyback plan, most recently bought back - from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 - treasury shares worth a total of about EUR85,000.

Antares, on the other hand, took home 2.5 percent, rearing its head again after two sessions closed among the bearish.

Pharmanutra, on the other hand, advanced 3.2 percent, following up on the previous session's 6.5 percent gain.

Industrie de Nora, on the other hand, depreciated 0.9 percent, following the bullish candle on the eve with 2.0 percent.

Salcef, on the other hand, left 1.7 percent on the parterre, with new price at EUR23.70, following the eve's 2.1 percent gain.

On the Small-Cap, SIT marked a plus 4.0%, leading the weekly to mark a 42% gain.

High quarters also for Sogefi, which put in 8.1 percent at EUR1.81, thus updating its 52-week high.

Aquafil, on the other hand, picked up 7.5 percent to EUR2.95 after four sessions closed among the bearish.

Unieuro, on the other hand, drops 0.3 percent to EUR10.02 per share, after rising more than 11 percent last night. The company announced Monday that it had closed its acquisition of Covercare, a leading player in Italy in the market for cell phone repair services as well as in the installation of air conditioners and boilers.

Netweek, on the other hand, gave up 3.5 percent, following a 2.2 percent red in the previous session.

Among SMEs, boost on Allcore, which advanced more than 12 percent. There was high trading volume on the stock, with more than 70,500 changed hands compared to an atre-month daily average of about 7,200.

Copernico also did well, closing with a plus 8.1 percent on the heels of the previous session's gain of 8.1 percent.

Saccheria F.lli Franceschetti--up more than 11 percent--reported that the board has decided to call a shareholders' meeting to which it will submit the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.043 per share. If approved, the payment will take place on January 17, two days after the ex date and one day after the record date. The dividend yield is 4.1 percent from Monday's last closing share price.

In addition, the board will ask shareholders for approval to initiate a buyback program of up to 177,010 shares, for which it may invest no more than EUR400,000.

Among the declines, numerous in the list, Vantea SMART closed down 6.0 percent, following up on the eve's red close with a 3.5 percent decline.

In New York, the Dow Jones is floating just below parity, the S&P is giving up 0.1 percent, and the Nasdaq is posting a fractional red.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0785 against USD1.0788 recorded at Tuesday's European stock close while the pound is worth USD1.2586 from USD1.2595 last night.

Brent crude is worth USD74.46 per barrel versus USD77.43 per barrel at Tuesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,025.31 an ounce from USD2,013.59 an ounce last night.

Thursday's macroeconomic calendar calls for the trade balance at 0400 CET from China, while at 0800 CET it will be the turn of the Halifax housing index in the UK. At the same time, Germany's industrial production figure will be released. At 1000 CET, Italy's industrial production figure will be available instead, from where, an hour later, the retail sales figure will also arrive.

At 1100 CET, the employment and GDP figure will be released from the Eurozone, where the Eurogroup meeting will begin. At 1730 CET, on the other hand, an auction of treasury bills with 4- and 8-week maturities is scheduled.

At 1430 CET, from the US, the data on initial unemployment claims is due.

No particular announcements are scheduled in the economic calendar for the Piazza Affari.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News senior reporter

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