(Alliance News) - Major European indexes opened Tuesday's session mixed, with investors cautiously awaiting U.S. inflation data that could influence the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision next week.

Markets also weighed data showing that the U.K. unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in July from 4.2 percent in June, in line with expectations.

As a result, the FTSE Mib opens up 0.2 percent to 33,639.09, the Mid-Cap rises 0.2 percent to 45,784.85, the Small-Cap is down 0.3 percent to 28,351.25, and Italy Growth is in fractional green at 7,923.17.

London's FTSE 100 gives up 0.5 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.2 percent and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is just above par.

On the Mib, UniCredit rises 0.2 percent after announcing Monday that it has placed a EUR1 billion issue of Additional Tier 1 instruments aimed at institutional investors.

These are the first Additional Tier 1 instruments issued by UniCredit in more than three years that help strengthen the Tier 1 ratio by about 35 basis points and complete UniCredit's MREL funding plan aimed at institutional investors for 2024.

Banca Mediolanum rises 0.4 percent after publishing August trading results of EUR665 million on Friday. Of these, total net inflows amount to EUR486 million and EUR6.82 billion since the beginning of the year.

DiaSorin -- down 0.2 percent -- announced Monday the launch of the new Liaison S. pneumoniae Antigen immunodiagnostic test in all countries that accept CE marking as an aid to the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia infection, a severe community-acquired pneumonia.

"The launch of this new test confirms our positioning as a specialty player, providing innovative solutions with high clinical value," commented Chen Even, Chief Commercial Officer of Diasorin.

"We are confident that the new test will be able to help discriminate etiological factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia, ensuring broader decision-making in antibiotic administration and management."

On the Mid-Cap, Banca Generali -- in fractional red -- reported Monday that it achieved net inflows of EUR378 million in August, up 53 percent from the corresponding month last year, when it was EUR247.0 million.

Since the beginning of the year, inflows amount to EUR4.24 billion compared to EUR3.97 billion in the same period of 2023.

Acea, down 0.1 percent after a 1.2 percent rise on the eve, announced Monday that it had won a tender worth an estimated more than EUR1.2 billion for the management, in Sicily, of about 2,000 kilometers of water network, about 1,300 kilometers of sewer network, 166,000 water users, or 390,000 inhabitants served.

Planned investments in the tender amount to EUR366 million, the company specified in a note.

Salvatore Ferragamo gives up 0.4 percent. Barclays yesterday cut target price to EUR6.87 from EUR7.19 with 'underweight' title.

PharmaNutra - up 2.0% - reported Monday that it closed the first half of the year with revenues up to EUR57.0 million from EUR50.2 million in the same period last year.

Among smallcaps, Newlat Food gives up 8.0 percent after reporting Monday that it closed the first half with revenues reaching EUR370.1 million, down 10 percent from EUR413.3 million in the first half of 2023.

The decline is attributable to the strong deflationary effects observed in the first half compared to the same period last year.

Centrale del Latte d'Italia rises 0.7 percent after it reported Monday that it closed the first half with revenues of EUR165.7 million compared to EUR169.8 million in the same period last year.

Valsoia still does not trade after closing up 1.7 percent. It reported Monday that it closed the first half of the year with a profit up to EUR4.1 million from EUR3.7 million as of June 30, 2023.

Total sales revenue for the period was EUR58.0 million from EUR55.8 million in the first half of 2023. Ebitda as of June 30 was EUR7.0 million from EUR6.1 million in 2023.

Seco -- up 0.2 percent -- announced Monday the release of Clea OS, an embedded Linux framework, as a new component of the Clea software stack.

"Clea OS represents a significant advancement in the development of IoT solutions, enabling developers and organizations to create and deploy innovative IoT infrastructures more efficiently and effectively," the company specified in a note.

Dexelance -- down 6.4 percent -- reported Monday that it closed the first half of the year with revenues of EUR151.0 million, up from EUR135.4 million in the same period last year.

The half-year ended with a net profit of EUR1.0 million compared to EUR5.8 million in 2023. Adjusted net income was EUR6.8 million, also down from the full adjusted net income figure of EUR12.3 million as of June 30, 2023.

Among SMEs, Racing Force still does not trade after rising 6.9 percent last night. On Monday it reported that it received the first order for the production of carbon shells for LIFT Airborne Technologies' Next Generation Fixed-Wing Helmet for the U.S. Air Force.

For Racing Force, this is the effective start of sales of equipment for the defense sector, a milestone in its diversification plans with the group aspiring to export to other sectors the skills and technology acquired at the top of motorsport.

Notorious Pictures is not yet interested in trading after it announced Tuesday that its wholly owned subsidiary Notorious Cinemas Srl has signed a multi-year lease to operate a multiplex in Sinalunga, in the province of Siena, under the Notorious brand, starting Sept. 13.

In Asia, the Nikkei gave up 0.2 percent to 36,159.16, the Hang Seng advanced 0.5 percent to 17,278.24 and the Shanghai Composite closed up 0.3 percent to 2,744.19.

In New York, the Dow closed up 1.2 percent to 40,829.59, the Nasdaq rose 0.2 percent to 16,884.60 and the S&P 500 gained 1.2 percent to 5,471.05.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.1043 versus USD1.1042 in Monday's European equities close while the pound was worth USD1.3106 from USD1.3080 on Monday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude trades at USD71.47 per barrel versus USD71.28 per barrel in Monday's European stock close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,508.28 an ounce from USD2,497.35 an ounce on Monday evening.

Tuesday's macroeconomic calendar includes Italian industrial production data at 1000 CEST.

The EU economic forecast will be released at 1100 CEST while OPEC's monthly report will be released two hours later.

In the afternoon, eyes will be on EIA energy estimates while the day will close at 2230 CEST with weekly oil stocks.

Among the companies in Piazza Affari, the accounts of B&C Speakers, Gas Plus, Italian Sea Group, TXT e-solutions and Unidata are expected.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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