(Alliance News) - European stock markets were set to open slightly higher on Friday as investors look to key US economic data ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision next week.
The US central bank is expected to announce a further 25 basis point rate cut next week, with another 2-3 reductions expected next year.
The MIB - after ending trading up 0.3% at 43,519.07 last night - is advancing by 80.00 points.
The CAC 40 in Paris is up 28.00 points, the DAX 40 in Frankfurt is up 42.90 points, and the FTSE 100 in London is just above par.
Last night, Mid-Cap gained 0.2% to 58,413.85, Small-Cap closed stable at 35,936.16, and Italy Growth gained 0.1% to 8,501.83 points.
On the Italian stock exchange last night, Stellantis welcomed the news from Washington, where President Donald Trump proposed drastically reducing fuel efficiency standards, with a further 3.6% rise. This is an attempt to make it easier for "traditional" car manufacturers to sell gasoline-powered cars.
FinecoBank, up 0.8%, recorded net inflows of EUR 1.0 billion in November, bringing the figure since the beginning of the year to EUR 11.8 billion. In November last year, inflows amounted to EUR 941 million.
Poste Italiane, down 0.6%, is considering two transactions: increasing its stake in TIM by purchasing an additional 2.5% from Vivendi, bringing its total stake to 27.3%, and entering PagoPa with a 49% stake. CEO Matteo Del Fante did not deny the negotiations.
Eni has signed its first long-term agreement with Turkey's Botas to supply LNG to Turkey: 0.4 Mtpa for 10 years starting in 2028, continuing the three-year agreement signed in 2025. The stock was slightly down at EUR16.35 per share.
As for the investigation into MPS and Mediobanca, tomorrow the board of the Siena-based institution, in addition to updating itself on the progress of the investigation, will also take stock of the industrial path: the MPS-Mediobanca plan - both down 1.2% and 1.1% respectively - to be presented in March and the renewal of the top management in the spring, accompanied by the amendment of the articles of association to introduce the list of the board of directors, pending the green light from the ECB.
In the Mid-Cap segment, d'Amico International Shipping has signed two new time-charter contracts with a major counterparty through its subsidiary. The stock was up 1.8%.
Fincantieri and ASRY have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the shipbuilding sector. For the Italian company, this is a gateway to the Bahraini market and further strengthens its position in the Middle East. From December 22, the stock, which is currently up 3.6%, will be listed on the Mib.
Plenitude and Acea - down 0.5% - signed a binding agreement in Rome worth EUR 587 million for the acquisition by Plenitude of 100% of ACEA Energia, a company active in the retail energy market, including a 50% stake in Umbria Energy.
Good purchases on Avio for 7.1% at EUR 25.80 per share.
On the Small Cap market, Zest announced that the offer on the stock exchange of 43.3 million unexercised option rights as part of the capital increase had been completed: 10.3 million rights were sold for approximately EUR 2,000 and, following their exercise, 2.2 million new shares were subscribed, equal to approximately 5.9% of the increase, for EUR 265,000. The stock fell by 2.0%.
The board of directors of OPS eCom - down 4.4% - acquires SCL: the preliminary agreement has been signed and the transaction, which may be completed by OPS eCom or one of its subsidiaries, will be finalized after the ongoing formalities and checks have been completed. The total price is EUR 330,000. OPS will also provide SCL with extraordinary financial support of up to EUR 250,000.
Fidia announced that it had received a request from Global Growth Holding Limited to convert 10 bonds of the convertible bond cum warrant: the price is EUR0.13 per share and resulted in the total issue of 769,230 new shares. The stock fell 5.6%.
Double-digit sales for Centrale del Latte d'Italia, down 13% to EUR5.0 per share.
Among SMEs, Eprcomunicazione - up 9.2% - announced that its subsidiary Justbit is part of a temporary association of companies led by Changee, which won a EUR 1.1 million tender from a major transport and mobility company.
TMP Group renewed its annual collaboration for 2026 with the Wilson sports brand. The partnership has been active for four seasons. The stock was down 3.4%.
In addition, Smart Capital announced that its subsidiary Midolini Group has completed the sale of 100% of Midsea's share capital to the Equiter Infrastructure II fund, managed by Equiter SGR.
Predict - not affected by trading - announced on Wednesday that it had been awarded a EUR65,570 order for the sale of two Mistral Sampler devices to the Interuniversity Department of Physics at the Polytechnic University of Bari.
Good purchases on Elsa Solution, which closed up 11% at EUR2.12 per share.
In New York, the Dow lost 0.1%, the Nasdaq gained 0.2%, while the S&P 500 ended up 0.1%.
Among Asian markets, the Nikkei lost 1.1%, the Hang Seng advanced 0.6%, and the Shanghai Composite gained 0.7%.
On the currency front, the euro traded at USD 1.1666 from USD 1.1656 at Thursday's stock market close, while the pound traded at USD 1.3355 from USD 1.3351 last night.
Among commodities, Brent crude traded at USD 63.30 per barrel, down from USD 63.54 per barrel at yesterday evening's close, while gold was worth USD 4,227.65 per ounce, up from USD 4,213.96 per ounce yesterday evening.
On Friday's economic calendar, Italian retail sales data arrives at 1000 CET, while Eurozone employment data is expected at 1100 CET.
In the afternoon, starting at 1600 CET, the spotlight will be on the US with the consumer spending price index and, from 2130 CET, on net speculative positions on commodities.
No significant announcements are expected from the Italian stock exchange.
By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News Reporter
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