(Alliance News) - On Friday, major European stock markets confirm expectations and open mixed and with little momentum, with Milan and Paris the only bourses in the green and while gold falls below the USD2,000 threshold.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is in the green 0.1 percent to 27,651.41, the Mid-Cap is down 0.3 percent to 43,505.25, the Small-Cap gives up 0.2 percent to 29,558.31, and Italy Growth is in the fractional red at 9,216.72.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is up 0.2 percent, London's FTSE 100 is in the fractional red, as is Frankfurt's DAX 40.

In macroeconomic news, retail sales in the United Kingdom fell more than expected in March, according to data provided Friday by the Office for National Statistics.

Retail sales volume is estimated to have fallen 0.9 percent in March from the previous month, after a 1.1 percent increase in February. February's monthly increase was revised downward from a 1.2 percent increase, the ONS said.

Markets had expected retail sales volume to fall 0.5 percent in March on a monthly basis, according to the FXStreet consensus.

In Japan, the core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food but includes the cost of fuel, rose 3.1 percent in March 2023 from a year ago, matching consensus forecasts and the previous month's figure, which was the lowest in five months, although it remains well above the central bank's 2 percent target.

On the main list of Piazza Affari, Saipem rises 2.8 percent after it and Clough, the Australian subsidiary of the Webuild Group -- in the green by 0.2 percent on the Mid -- in a 50-50 joint venture, were reported to have obtained full contractual effectiveness for the development of the Perdaman Industries urea plant, located on the coast of Western Australia, with the achievement of the Commencement Date.

The value of the new contract is just over USD2.8 billion-EUR2.56 billion; each JV participant's share is about USD1.4 billion.

The plant will be the largest in Australia and one of the largest in the world and will ensure the highest standards of sustainability of production processes. It will also be part of a very large project for Western Australia, generating an average of 2,000 jobs during the construction phase and about 200 permanent jobs during the operational phase.

Interpump Group--up 0.5 percent--announced the acquisition of 70 percent of the capital of I.Mec Srl, which specializes in the manufacture of mechanical screens, or devices for particle size selection of matter through vibration mechanisms, with the ceramic, recycling, purification, food and cosmetics industries as its main application sectors.

The value of the transaction has been set at about EUR14 million, and put and call mechanisms have been defined through which, starting in April 2026, the counterparties will be able to buy and sell the remaining 30 percent.

CNH Industrial gives up 0.2% after announcing the sale of its operations in Russia for total proceeds of about USD60 million.

On the Mid-Cap, Brembo gives up 0.3 percent. The shareholders' meeting on Thursday renewed the board of directors and the board of statutory auditors. Both will remain in office until the approval of the 2025 budget.

As for the board of directors, Matteo Tiraboschi was appointed chairman and Daniele Schillaci was confirmed as CEO.

OVS -- in the green by 0.9 percent -- reported Wednesday that it closed the year to January 31, 2023 with net sales at EUR1.51 billion up more than 11 percent from EUR1.36 billion recorded the previous year. In addition, the board of directors resolved to propose to the shareholders' meeting the payment of a dividend for the 2022 financial year of EUR0.06 per share.

Adjusted net income amounted to EUR78.4 million up more than 75 percent from EUR44.8 million recorded in 2021.

Brunello Cucinelli's board of directors--down 0.2 percent--reported Tuesday that it had reviewed revenues for the first quarter of 2023, having reported 35 percent growth within the different geographies and in both sales channels, retail and wholesale.

In detail, net revenues amounted to EUR265.3 million from EUR196.9 million in the same period last year.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore -- in the red by 0.6 percent -- announced Thursday that it had executed a contract for the sale to PBF Srl of its 18.45 percent shareholding in Società Europea di Edizioni, publisher of the daily Il Giornale.

The consideration for the transaction, to be settled entirely in cash, is defined as EUR2.3 million.

The sale results in a net gain in the Mondadori Group's income statement of EUR500,000.

On the Small-Cap, Bioera is still on top, up 6.7 percent.

Piquadro is not yet scmabia, but reported Wednesday that, in fiscal year 2022-2023, revenues increased 18% to EUR175.6 million from EUR149.4 million while, in the fourth quarter alone, they improved 22% to EUR48.8 million from EUR40.0 million.

Among SMEs, Eprcommunication is not yet affected by trading, having reported revenues of EUR5.2 million in 2022 from EUR5.1 million recorded as of Dec. 31, 2021, up 1.2 percent.

Profit amounted to EUR13,891 from a profit of EUR38,615 as of Dec. 31, 2021, down 33%.

CleanBnB rises 2.8 percent after announcing that it approved the draft financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, having reported a loss of EUR155,305, an 86 percent improvement from a loss of EUR1.2 million in 2021.

Consolidated revenues amounted to EUR9.4 million from EUR4.0 million in the same period of the previous year and a triple-digit improvement of 136 percent.

Farmaè -- in the green by 0.9 percent -- reported Thursday that it posted a 46 percent year-on-year increase in revenues in the first quarter to EUR38.8 million from EUR26.5 million in the same period a year earlier.

Monnalisa is not yet trading. The company reported that it is ready to adopt Blockchain technology with a pilot activity on the Couture line, through the "Track IT Blockchain Project" of ICE - the government agency for the internationalization and promotion of Italian companies.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed down 0.3 percent to 28,564.37 and the Hang Seng is giving up 1.9 percent to 20,013.59, while the Shanghai Composite closed down 2.0 percent to 3,301.26.

In New York on Thursday, the Dow Jones closed down 0.3 percent to 33,786.62, the S&P lost 0.6 percent to 4,129.79, while the Nasdaq was down 0.8 percent to 12,059.79.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0949 versus USD1.0972 at Thursday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2400 from USD1.2455 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD80.66 per barrel USD81.22 per barrel Thursday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,996.25 an ounce from USD2,002.73 an ounce at Thursday's close.

On Friday's economic calendar, at 1000 CEST, the Eurozone and UK manufacturing PMI is due at 1030 CEST.

At 1430 CEST, Canadian retail sales are due, and at 1545 CEST, US PMI is due.

In Piazza Affari, the quarterly results of BB Biotech, Clabo, Sogefi, and TrenDevice are scheduled.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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