(Alliance News) - European stock markets Thursday continued with the bullish trend seen since the bell rang, thanks to good results that are pushing the list.

On the domestic side, 'Italy posted a larger trade surplus on a monthly and year-on-year basis in December, Istat reported Thursday. Italy's trade surplus was EUR5.61 billion in December compared to EUR3.89 billion in November and EUR685 million in December 2022.

In December, exports rose 1.2 percent month-on-month after falling 2.4 percent in November and fell 7.8 percent year-on-year after falling 4.4 percent the month before.

The FTSE Mib, therefore, moves up 0.8 percent to 31,592.81.

In Europe, London's lone bearish FTSE 100 is down 0.1 percent, Paris's CAC 40 is advancing 0.7 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is up 0.6 percent.

Among the smaller lists, the Mid-Cap is giving fractionally at 45.28462, the Small-Cap is in the red 0.1% at 27,630.69, and Italy Growth is in the green 0.4% at 8,137.65.

On the Mib, Prysmian is doing best of all, in the green by 4.1% with new price at EUR43.46. On Thursday it reported that it had finalized contracts for three orders with an aggregate value of about EUR5 billion with Amprion, one of Europe's leading transmission system operators, for two offshore grid connection systems, BalWin1 and BalWin2, and the DC34 onshore cable project. The orders, which have now been included in Prysmian's order backlog, follow Prysmian's selection as "preferred bidder" in August 2023.

Stellantis -- in profit by 4.1 percent -- has decided to award a total bonus of EUR1.9 billion to employees worldwide after reporting growing results in 2023. Revenues from sales at the merged company of FCA and PSA Groupe rose to EUR189.54 billion from EUR179.59 billion in 2022, an increase of 6 percent.

Telecom Italia, on the other hand, is advancing 1.9 percent with new price at EUR0.27 per share after 1.9 percent green on eve.

On a negative note, minority of the list Banco BPM is giving up 2.4 percent, after 0.1 percent gain the night before.

BPER, on the other hand, is leaving 2.3% on the parterre, with price at EUR3.44 per share, on the heels of eve's 1.1% decline.

In the cadet segment, Seco is advancing 3.2 percent with new price at EUR3.10 per share after eve's 1.1 percent green.

Carel Industries, on the other hand, marks a plus 1.3 percent to EUR22.75 per share after 0.9 percent green on eve.

High quarters also for Salvatore Ferragamo, which moves ahead 1.1 percent after eve's 0.4 percent green.

Unlimited Bank gives ground, posting minus 1.0 percent to EUR4.83 per share on the heels of eve's 2.7 percent close.

Citigroup raised Tod's target price to EUR43.00 from EUR35.00. The stock still posted a 0.1 percent red.

Rounding out the list is Credito Emiliano, which is marking minus 2.3 percent with price at EUR8.76 per share.

On the SmallCap, Softlab advances 3.7 percent to EUR1.55 per share after a 5.6 percent loss on eve.

Beewize, on the other hand, moves ahead 9.6% after two bearish sessions.

Esprinet -- in the red by 2.3% -- reported Wednesday that it had revenues from customer contracts of EUR4.0 billion in 2023, down 15% from EUR4.7 billion in 2022. The latest quarter saw revenues of about EUR1.2 billion, down 15 percent from the same period in 2022 when they were EUR1.5 billion.

Gefran -- in a 0.7 percent letter -- reported Wednesday that it ended 2023 with revenues down slightly year-on-year to EUR132.8 million from EUR134.4 million a year earlier.

Among SMEs, Estrima is moving ahead by 6.3 percent to EUR0.73 per share, after a 1.7 percent decline on the eve.

ALA -- in the green by 5.8 percent -- reported Thursday that it ended 2023 with a value of production of EUR233.1 million compared to EUR158.7 million a year earlier, up 47 percent. Ebitda rose 50 percent to EUR25.3 million from EUR16.8 million while margin increased to 10.9 percent from 10.6 percent.

Energy, on the other hand, is advancing 5.7 percent, with new price at EUR2.23, after declining with 1.4 percent in the previous session.

DigiTouch is giving up 2.3 percent to EUR2.15 per share, following a 2.3 percent green light on eve.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow advanced 0.4 percent, the Nasdaq closed up 1.3 percent while the S&P 500 closed in the green 1.0 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0734 against USD1.0716 recorded in Wednesday's European stock close while the pound was worth USD1.2549 from USD1.2551 on Wednesday evening.

Brent crude is worth USD80.97 per barrel versus USD82.70 per barrel at Wednesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,996.00 an ounce from USD1,991.83 an ounce last night.

Thursday's calendar from the U.S. includes a range of data starting with the import price index and initial claims for unemployment benefits at 1430 CET. Also scheduled at the same time are retail sales and the Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing index.

US manufacturing and industrial production will come out at 1515 CET.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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