(Alliance News) - Major European stock markets continue in positive territory, with the DAX 40 doing best of all just ahead of the highly anticipated though predictable monetary policy news from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England, while The Mib is back below 27,000, which it has not seen since February 2022.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is in the green by 0.8 percent to 26,916.94, the Mid-Cap is up 0.5 percent to 44,189.14, the Small-Cap is in the green by 0.7 percent to 29,889.64, while Italy Growth rises 0.2 percent to 9,516.83.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 rises 0.6 percent, as does London's FTSE 100, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 is in the green by 1.6 percent.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, Telecom Italia rises, marking an 8.9 percent gain. The company announced before the opening on Thursday that it had received a non-binding offer from KKR to acquire a stake in a constituent company coinciding with the management and infrastructure perimeter of the fixed-line network, including FiberCop's assets and activities, as well as the stake in Sparkle, so-called Netco.

The non-binding offer refers to a shareholding to be defined, on the understanding that the purchase would result in the loss of vertical integration with respect to TIM.

STMicroelectronic goes up 2.9 percent. On the stock it is reported that Berenberg raised its target price for STM to EUR45.00 from EUR37.00 with a 'hold' recommendation.

Banks are down, with FinecoBank in the red by 0.6 percent, BPER Banca down 0.2 percent and Banca Generali sche trades down 0.8 percent.

Holding up, however, was UniCredit, up 1.5 percent. The bank yesterday announced a profit for the year 2022 excluding Russia at EUR5.4 billion from EUR3.3 billion in the previous year, "the best result in more than a decade," as pointed out by CEO, Andrea Orcel.

However, at the bottom sits the oil sector with Tenaris doing worst of all in the red by 1.6 percent, along with Eni down 0.8 percent and Saipem down 0.1 percent.

On the Mid-Cap, Industrie De Nora - in the red by 2.2% - reported Thursday that it had reviewed preliminary data as of December 31, letting it know that it reported consolidated revenues of over EUR850 million from EUR615.9 million in 2021 and marking a 38% increase.

Adjusted Ebitda is expected at over EUR190 million from EUR126.7 million in the same period last year and up 50 percent.

Credito Emiliano gives up 0.3 percent. As this week's Evaluation.it analysis by Claudio Guerrini on Credem's stock reveals, it "shows a higher riskiness than the market, with a beta greater than 1, due to its presence in the financial sector and exposure to market trends."

doValue rises 1.3 percent, after announcing Wednesday that the senior Class A securities of the securitization realized through the special purpose vehicle Fino 1 Securitization Srl have been repaid. This was possible "thanks to the excellent recovery performance of the loans underlying the securitization realized through Fino 1 Securitization, under which the GACS guarantee was granted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance," the company explained.

On Small-Cap, Bologna's Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi -- up 2.0 percent -- announced Thursday the consolidation of its partnership with Ryanair, which began in 2008 and was strengthened in 2016, and is now confirmed with a six-year agreement.

"Aeroporto di Bologna and Ryanair confirm full agreement, within their respective development objectives, in order to ensure the maintenance of an articulated and varied network of connections within the areas served by the carrier and ensure network development in line with capacity and in coherence with the Marconi's infrastructure development projects," the company explained in a note.

Doing poorly is Compagnia Immobiliare Azionaria, down 0.3 percent. ePrice is down 0.8 percent to EUR0.01 per share. Worst of all is I Grandi Viaggi, in the red by 3.2 percent.

Among SMEs, Spindox--down 3.3%--reported Wednesday the opening of its new Stackhouse factory in Palermo, strengthening its presence in southern Italy.

Convergence rises 4.9 percent. The company reported Tuesday that it ended 2022 with revenues of EUR28.2 million, up 53% from EUR18.4 million a year earlier.

ReeVo - up 0.4 percent - reported Wednesday that with the Temporary Grouping of Companies in which it participates together with IBM Italy, through the ITALIT business network, it has signed a framework contract for the provision of cloud application services and demand and PMO services, for central public administrations.

Digital Value gains 0.1 percent, after reporting Tuesday that it ended 2022 with revenues of EUR706.9 million, up 18 percent or EUR109.4 million from the previous year. The figure was 1.4 percent above the market consensus of EUR697.2 million "and confirms the country's strong focus on investments in digitization and ICT infrastructure efficiency," as the company explained.

In New York on Wednesday, the Dow closed just above par at 34,092.96, the Nasdaq rose 2.0 percent to 11,816.32 while the S&P 500 gained 1.1 percent to 4,119.21.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0986 versus USD1.0918 at Wednesday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2319 from USD1.2302 last night.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD82.92 per barrel compared to USD85.07 per barrel on Wednesday evening. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,968.70 an ounce from USD1,924.75 an ounce last session.

On Thursday's macroeconomic calendar, the Bank of England's decision on the main rate is due at 1300 CET. At 1415 CET, on the other hand, it will be the ECB's rate decision, with the press conference of its president, Christine Lagarde, taking place half an hour later.

From the US, at 1600 CET the durable goods report, while at 1730 CET the 4- and 8-week Treasury bond auctions are scheduled.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News senior reporter

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