(Alliance News) - Major European stock markets opened in positive territory on Wednesday, contravening futures forecasts, on a day punctuated by a series of macro appointments in the Eurozone.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is in the green 0.1 percent to 34,985.28, the Mid-Cap gives up 0.6 percent to 47,962.43, the Small-Cap rises 0.4 percent to 28,129.09,699.15 while Italy Growth picks up 0.2 percent to 8,023.91.

London's FTSE 100 is in green by 0.1 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is in fractional red, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 rises 0.1 percent.

In macroeconomic news, retail sales in Germany fell 0.6 percent month-on-month in November, following an upwardly revised 0.4 percent increase in October and compared with forecasts for a 0.5 percent increase.

On a year-over-year basis, retail sales rose 2.5 percent, up from October's upwardly revised 2.4 percent increase and above forecasts of 1.9 percent.

Also on Wednesday, Germany's Federal Statistical Office also reported that factory orders in Germany plummeted 5.4 percent in November, far exceeding October's 1.5 percent drop and market estimates of a flat reading.

Back in Milan, on the highest-capitalization list in Piazza Affari, Leonardo does best of all and takes the top spot with 1.5 percent.

Also going up is UniCredit, up 1.1 percent, while Banca Mediolanum, in the green by 1.0 percent, closes the podium.

Among the bearish, STMicroelectronics sits at the bottom, down 1.2%.

Enel - down 0.4 percent - announced that it has launched new euro-denominated, non-convertible, subordinated, hybrid, perpetual bonds for institutional investors in the European market for a total amount of EUR2 billion.

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 response from investors enabled the achievement of an average cost below current market levels and an average coupon of 4.375 percent.

Assicurazioni Generali -- down 0.5 percent -- announced Tuesday a buyback offer for three series of subordinated bonds with maturity or first call between 2025 and 2026, for a total amount of up to EUR500.0 million.

The repurchase offer includes three different series of bonds: the first with a nominal value of EUR1.50 billion and a rate of 4.596 percent; the second, with a nominal value of EUR1.00 billion and a rate of 4.125 percent, has maturity set for May 2026; and the third, with a value of GBP350.0 million, has a rate of 6.269 percent and a first call scheduled for June 2026.

At the same time, the company will proceed with the issuance of new Tier 2 subordinated bonds, also for a maximum amount of EUR500.0 million, with scheduled maturity in 2035 and denominated in green, as part of its EUR15 billion Euro Medium Term Note Program.

Iveco Group--down 0.4 percent--reported that ownership of Magirus and its firefighting subsidiaries has been transferred to Mutares SE & Co. KGaA under the terms of the agreement described in March last year.

On the Mid-Cap, Banca Ifis rises 0.8 percent after it announced Wednesday that it has approved the promotion of a voluntary tender offer for all the shares of illimity Bank -- topping the small-cap list with a 9.7 percent rise -- 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.

Technoprobe gives up 1.1 percent. The company Tuesday announced that it has received notice from controlling shareholder T-PLUS that it has entered into a binding agreement to sell Technoprobe shares, amounting to 2.5 percent of the latter's share capital, to Advantest Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advantest Corporation a leading designer and manufacturer of automated test equipment.

Following the sale of 2.5 percent of Technoprobe shares, T-PLUS will hold a 57.96 percent stake in the company's share capital and 70.47 percent of the voting rights.

Webuild -- in the green by 2.2 percent -- announced Monday the opening to the public of the Orange Line -- Line 3 -- of the Riyadh Metro, part of one of the World's largest urban mobility infrastructure projects. The 41-kilometer line is the most extensive driverless metro network in the Saudi capital, which opened last November. Five strategic stations are now operational, including Al-Naseem Station, a transfer point with the Purple Line.

Among the worst performers is Reply, down 3.7 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 about 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, Geox rises 0.8 percent. The company after the Moretti Polegato family advanced the company a check for EUR30 million, corresponding to the first tranche of the capital increase planned by June. This emerges from documentation released by the Montebelluna-based footwear group to illustrate the commitments of the safe LIR, the main shareholder with 71%.

KME Group is not yet affected by the exchanges. The company announced Monday that its subsidiary KME has completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Blackhawk Holding. The latter is a German holding company that wholly owns Sundwiger Messingwerk, a company active in bronze rolled semi-finished products and a manufacturer of brass rolled semi-finished products.

Among SMEs, Circle is in the green by 1.2 percent at the start 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 of 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.

Up to EUR969,000 is planned for the seventh year, with a further possible extension up to EUR1 million. The maximum total value of the contract thus amounts to EUR13.8 million.

Maps rises 1.0 percent. The company on Tuesday reported that the consortium of companies participated by the company and led by EcoMole Sro, a major Prague-based company, has signed a framework agreement with EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority.

The one-year agreement provides for automatic annual renewal for an additional three years, for a maximum duration of four years, for a total amount of EUR4.0 million.

Among the bearers is Ambromobiliare, which sits on the bottom with a liability of about 11 percent.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed down 0.3 percent at 39,981.06, the Shanghai Composite finished slightly higher at 3,230.17 and the Hang Seng gave up 0.9 percent to 19,279.84.

In New York on Tuesday, the Dow closed down 0.4 percent to 42,528.36, the Nasdaq gave up 1.9 percent to 19,489.68 and the S&P 500 lost 1.1 percent to 5,909.03.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0333 versus USD1.0367 in Tuesday's European equities close. The pound is worth USD1.2470 from USD1.2490 last night.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD77.57 per barrel from USD76.70 per barrel at Tuesday's close. Gold trades at USD2,665.91 an ounce from USD2,651.80 an ounce Tuesday evening.

Wednesday's macroeconomic calendar includes, at 1100 CET, for the Eurozone, consumer and business sentiment, as well as producer price data.

At 1300 CET, from the U.S., it will be the turn of the mortgage rate report, followed at 1430 CET by unemployment benefit claims.

At 1630 CET will be the crude oil stocks data, while in the evening, at 2000 CET, the minutes of the latest FOMC meeting will be published.

Among the companies in the Piazza Affari, no particular event is scheduled.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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