(Alliance News) - On Wednesday, major European indexes closed mixed, with Milan in the green above 35,100, and Paris and Frankfurt giving ground.
"Signs of rising inflation in the U.S., combined with an 11-month low in unemployment claims, pushed back expectations of rate cuts in 2025," commented Chris Beauchamp, IG analyst.
For the IG expert, the benefit claims confirm the strength of the U.S. economy, but rising rates complicate the Fed's task. After the 2024 soft landing, it will be more difficult for Powell to maintain economic balance.
The FTSE Mib closes Wednesday up 0.5 percent to 35,108.74, the Mid-Cap gives up 1.0 percent to 47,802.11, the Small-Cap drops 0.2 percent to 28,549.82, and Italy Growth advances in fractional green to 8,008.17.
London's FTSE 100 closes in fractional green, Paris' CAC 40 ends in the red by 0.5 percent while Frankfurt's DAX 40 falls 0.1 percent.
On the macroeconomic front, in the U.S., initial unemployment claims-jobless claims-declined from the previous week in the week ended Jan. 4, marking the lowest figure in eleven months, contrary to forecasts.
Also in the U.S., private sector job growth declined further in December.
In France, the consumer confidence indicator fell slightly to 89 points in December, to the lowest in a year, down from 90 points in the previous month.
Back in Milan, on the highest-capitalization list in Piazza Affari, Leonardo did better than all and rose 4.1 percent.
Banca Mediolanum - in the green by 3.5 percent - reported Wednesday that it closed December with net inflows of EUR1.01 billion, bringing its full-year net inflows to EUR10.44 billion.
Net inflows in assets under management amounted to EUR981 million and EUR7.64 billion in the year while new loans rose to EUR378 million in December and EUR3.09 billion in the full year. Premiums from protection policies amount to EUR23 million in the month and EUR206 million in the year.
A2A - in the green by 1.0 percent - announced that together with METRO Italia it has signed a partnership that will see the installation of 156 charging points for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles at 33 outlets of the retailer specialized in wholesale trade in the Horeca sector present in 14 regions.
FinecoBank rises 1.0 percent after reporting that net inflows reached EUR1.22 billion in December, bringing the total since the beginning of the year to EUR10.1 billion and surpassing EUR8.8 billion in 2023, up 15 percent year-on-year.
The asset mix sees a significant managed component of EUR783 million from EUR184 million in December 2023, a figure that represents the best month for the bank in three years, with Fineco Asset Management's retail inflows recording the highest result since January 2023 at EUR501 million.
Enel - in the red by 0.1 percent - announced that it has launched new EUR2 billion of non-convertible, subordinated, hybrid, perpetual euro-denominated bonds for institutional investors on the European market.
The company reported that the issue received oversubscribed applications more than 3 times, totaling orders amounting to about EUR6.8 billion, and that the positive investor response resulted in an average cost below current market levels and an average coupon of 4.375 percent.
Stellantis - in the red by 2.6 percent - announced Wednesday that it has entered into a partnership between its racing division and a subsidiary of U.S. tech giant Intel for Formula E.
Among the bearish, STMicroelectronics ranks at the bottom, down 4.4 percent.
On the mid-cap, Banca Ifis rises 2.4 percent after it announced Wednesday that it has approved the promotion of a voluntary tender and exchange offer for all the shares of illimity Bank -- in the green by 11 percent among small caps -- for EUR298 million.
Specifically, Banca Ifis has proposed that for each illimity Bank share taken up in the offer, a consideration expressing a unit valuation of EUR3.55, based on the official price of Banca Ifis shares as of January 7, will be recognized.
The consideration consists of 0.1 newly issued Banca Ifis share for each illimity Bank share and a cash component of EUR1.414.
Iren - in the red by 0.7 percent - reported Wednesday that its subsidiary Iren Mercato has signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement with Statkraft, Europe's largest renewable energy producer, for the supply of electricity from solar sources, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Among the worst performers is Reply, down 3.6 percent. The company reported that Alika has completed the sale of 1 million shares, corresponding to about 2.7 percent of its share capital, at a price per share of EUR149.50.
Following the completion of the transaction, Alika will retain ownership of approximately 13.9 million Reply shares, representing 37.1 percent of the related share capital and 54.1 percent of the voting rights.
On the Small-Cap, Mondo TV falls 1.9 percent. The company, which reported that it recently concluded several new agreements with Safe Media, one of the largest media distributors in the Middle East.
Among SMEs, Circle ends up 1.6 percent after announcing on Wednesday that InfoEra, a subsidiary company specializing in IT solutions for ports and port communities, was awarded in a Temporary Grouping of Companies together with Circle itself and the company DataCh Technologies the tender for the development and management of digitization services for the Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea Port of Trieste as a private partner of the newly formed joint company "PCS Newco Srl."
The value of the awarded contract is at least EUR5.8 million for the first 6 years, with the possibility of an additional EUR6 million also in the first 6 years.
For the seventh year, up to EUR969,000 is planned, with a further possible extension up to EUR1 million. The maximum total value of the contract thus amounts to EUR13.8 million.
EdiliziAcrobatica - unchanged at EUR7.58 per share - on Wednesday reported that its subsidiary Acrobatica Energy has developed a bid for the industrial photovoltaic market by choosing Etica nel Sole as its partner, a benchmark company in the sector that has an established presence in the market since 2008 with more than 1,000 systems designed and installed.
Among the bearers is GT Talent Group, which sits at the bottom with a 13 percent decline.
In New York, the Dow is in fractional green as is the Nasdaq, while the S&P 500 is up 0.1 percent.
Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0312 versus USD1.0367 at Tuesday's European stock close. The pound is worth USD1.2363 from USD1.2490 last night.
Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD73.53 per barrel from USD76.70 per barrel at Tuesday's close. Gold trades at USD2,685.96 an ounce from USD2,651.80 an ounce Tuesday evening.
Thursday's macroeconomic calendar opens, at 0230 CET from China, with the inflation and producer price data.
At 0800 CET, the trade balance and industrial production data will be published in Germany.
In the afternoon at 1430 CET, from the US, it is the turn of the unemployment claims report; at 1700 CET, the Bank of England's Breeden speech is expected.
In the evening, at 2230 CET, from the US, the Federal Reserve's balance sheet will be released.
Among the companies in Piazza Affari, Directa SIM's results are expected.
By Antonio Di Giorgio, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to redazione@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2025 Alliance News IS Italian Service Ltd. All rights reserved.