(Alliance News) - European stock markets are headed for a higher opening on Friday, bolstered by rumors of a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and reopen dialogue on Tehran's nuclear program.

The agreement would also reportedly include the restoration of free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a factor contributing to easing tensions in energy markets.

In Europe, attention remains focused on upcoming macroeconomic data, particularly inflation and labor market figures, which are considered crucial for understanding the European Central Bank's next monetary policy moves.

Consequently, the MIB - after closing up 0.5% at 49,825.32 points - is currently marking a gain of 137.00 points.

Among other European markets, the CAC 40 is up 19.00 points, the DAX 40 is up 55.00 points, while the FTSE 100 is fluctuating just below parity.

Among the minor indices at Piazza Affari yesterday evening, the Mid-Cap rose 0.5% to 62,096.15, the Small-Cap gained 0.1% to 35,559.86, and Italy Growth climbed 0.6% to 9,039.87.

At Piazza Affari yesterday evening, Stellantis - which ended the session down 0.3% - extended its strategic partnership in Europe with TotalEnergies to 'offer customers the best solutions for engine oils and lubricants'. The two companies launched a new range of co-branded engine oils consisting of two product lines: TotalEnergies Quartz MOPAR and TotalEnergies Quartz EV3R MOPAR SUSTAINera.

Intesa Sanpaolo, through its IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, announced on Thursday that it participated in a GBP825 million syndicated loan, equivalent to over EUR950 million, for Enviromena, an operator active in the development of renewable energy projects. The stock closed down 0.7%.

The board of Italgas, which rose 0.3%, appointed Pierre La Tour as the officer in charge of preparing corporate accounting documents effective June 1, the date on which he will also assume the role of CFO.

Berenberg confirmed its 'buy' recommendation on Ferrari - which recovered with a 3.5% gain compared to the previous day - with a target price of EUR381 for the Milan-listed stock and USD447 for the New York-listed one, following the presentation of the new Ferrari Luce, the Maranello-based company's first fully electric model, which divided the market.

FinecoBank and Unipol closed the basket down 2.7% and 3.0% respectively. Defense stocks drove the index, with Leonardo rising 5.5% and Avio gaining 5.2%.

On the Mid-Cap, Banca Ifis closed up 1.4%. Intesa Sanpaolo confirmed its 'buy' recommendation on the stock with a target price of EUR27.60, believing that the sale of the NPL platform Arecneprix to Prelios represents a further step in the group's simplification following the acquisition of illimity Bank.

The transaction allows Banca Ifis to accelerate the reorganization of assets considered non-strategic and to proceed with the integration of illimity, reducing the group's operational complexity and containing costs.

Salvatore Ferragamo, at the top of the list with a 10% gain at the end of trading, announced that the board of directors resolved to launch a share buyback program for a maximum value of EUR53 million.

Technoprobe performed well, with buying pushing it up 7.3% to EUR34.00 at the end of the session, while d'Amico finished trading in the red by 2.3%, as did Technogym.

Among Small-Caps, Aedes, which gained 5.0%, acquired a residential property in Courmayeur, in the Dolonne area, through its subsidiary Immobiliare Langhe for EUR1.6 million plus estimated ancillary costs of approximately EUR150,000.

The company plans extraordinary renovation work to create Class A4 energy-efficient apartments, with estimated revenues between EUR5.2 million and EUR6.2 million.

PLC outperformed all others with a 5.8% gain to EUR3.30, while The Italian Sea Group was among the day's worst performers, dropping 6.3% to EUR1.50.

Among SMEs, Kruso Kapital saw double-digit gains of 11% at EUR0.019 per share, while Helyx produced a positive performance of 11% at EUR0.786 per share.

Giglio.com, which recorded a 1.8% decline, successfully completed the placement of 1.2 million newly issued ordinary shares, with no par value, resulting from a share capital increase. The new shares were subscribed at a unit price of EUR0.49, for a total value of the increase, including share premium, of approximately EUR593,000.

Siav, with gains of 9.2%, concluded the subscription, via Accelerated Bookbuilding, of a share capital increase for a maximum amount of EUR2.5 million through the issuance of up to 1.1 million new ordinary shares of the company.

Telmes, flat at EUR1.205, closed the first quarter with revenues of EUR1.9 million from EUR1.6 million as of March 31, 2025. Furthermore, the company announced the start of a structural transformation process that will take the group from a traditional operating model to an AI-centric, data-oriented organization capable of intelligently automating its key processes.

Tenax International closed 2025 with a production value of EUR15.7 million from EUR23.4 million as of December 31, 2024. The company ended the year with an adjusted net loss of EUR1.8 million from an adjusted net profit of EUR600,000 in 2024. The stock fell 6.9%.

On Wall Street, during the European night, the Dow Jones gained 0.1%, the Nasdaq rose 0.9%, while the S&P was up 0.6%.

Among Asian markets, the Hang Seng gained 0.8%, the Nikkei rose 2.6%, while the Shanghai Composite is shedding 0.8%.

On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1648 from USD1.1653 yesterday evening, while the pound is trading at USD1.3443 from USD1.3438 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD91.87 per barrel from USD94.51 on Thursday evening, while gold is worth USD4,511.61 per ounce from USD4,478.41 at yesterday evening's close.

On Friday's economic calendar, German unemployment is expected at 0955 CEST, while Italy's is due at 1000 CEST. German consumer prices are also scheduled for 1000 CEST, followed by Italian figures at 1100 CEST. Italian GDP will be published at 1200 CEST.

Canadian GDP is expected at 1430 CEST, while Baker Hughes data on the total number of US drilling rigs is expected at 1900 CEST.

At Piazza Affari, several companies are presenting quarterly results, including EdiliziAcrobatica.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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