(Alliance News) - European stock markets are headed for a bullish opening Friday as investors await new inflation data from several European countries and the United States.

France, Italy and Spain will report preliminary June inflation data later in the day. Markets also await the latest report on the U.S. PCE price index, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation indicator.

Meanwhile, opinion polls indicate that the right-wing French party led by Le Pen, looks set to win a majority in the parliamentary elections beginning this weekend. Euro Stoxx 50 futures rose 0.2 percent in pre-market trade.

Thus, the FTSE Mib-after closing down 1.1 percent at 33,186.89-is advancing 72.50 points.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is advancing 25.00 points, Frankfurt's DAX 40 is advancing 70.40 points, and Paris' CAC 40 is advancing 28.30 points.

The Mid-Cap, last night, finished up 0.1 percent at 46,914.11, the Small-Cap closed up 0.5 percent at 28,805.77 while Italy Growth finished up slightly at 8,122.16.

On the Mib last night, Eni closed in the green by 0.5 percent after reporting Thursday that it had signed a binding agreement with Hilcorp, one of the largest private U.S. companies operating in Alaska, to sell 100 percent of the Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk assets held by Eni in Alaska.

The transaction is in line with Eni's strategy of optimizing upstream activities by rebalancing its portfolio and divesting non-strategic assets.

ERG -- in the red by 1.4 percent -- reported Friday that it had completed the placement of a EUR500 million 6-year fixed-rate bond issued as part of its EUR3.0 billion medium- to long-term non-convertible and non-subordinated bond issue program.

On the cadet segment, Fincantieri -- up 0.2 percent -- and Crystal announced Thursday the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to build two high-end, state-of-the-art cruise ships, plus an option for a third unit.

The new vessels will have a gross tonnage of 61,800 tons and will accommodate about 690 passengers, the statement said.

d'Amico International Shipping - up 1.7 percent - announced Thursday that its operating subsidiary d'Amico Tankers DAC has exercised its purchase option on the MT Crimson Jade, a "medium-range" tanker of 50,000 gross tonnage, built in June 2017 at Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co, Ltd, in Japan, for about USD31.0 million and with estimated delivery in July.

On the Small-Cap, Somec-which garnered 2.8 percent-on Thursday reported that it had won three orders worth a total of EUR63.4 million for the benefit of its Horizons division, engineered naval architecture systems and civil facades. The work will start in the second half of 2024 and continue until 2029 with volumes and consequently revenues evenly distributed over the time frame.

TXT e-solutions -- up 0.4 percent -- on Wednesday informed that a contract was signed for the acquisition of 100 percent of the capital of Imille Srl, its foreign subsidiaries Imille Spain SL, Imille Start Spa (Chile), and Imille Brasil Agencia LTDA, and the company Uasabi Srl, together referred to as the "I MILLE Group." TXT will consolidate the results within its Digital Advisory division as of June 26. The base consideration paid at closing for the purchase of 100% of Gruppo I MILLE, net of earn-outs, claw-back and NFP that will be settled in cash, was agreed between the parties at EUR8.5 million.

Borgosesia--in the red by 0.6 percent--reported that it had finalized the purchase of a 77 percent stake in an investment vehicle--owner of a property, abandoned for years, located on Via Mecenate (southeastern area) in Milan and already designated for office use for a consideration of EUR7.25 million.

Among SMEs, Circle's shareholders--green by 2.8 percent--approved a EUR4.0 million capital increase involving the issuance--through accelerated bookbuilding--of up to 600,000 new ordinary shares in the company.

In New York, the Dow rallied 0.1 percent, the Nasdaq rallied 0.3 percent, and the S&P took home 0.1 percent.

Among Asian exchanges, the Nikkei rallied 0.6 percent, the Shanghai Composite rallied 0.8 percent, while the Hang Seng rallied 0.3 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0692 from USD1.0707 on Thursday in closing European equities while the pound was worth USD1.2634 from USD1.2647 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is trading at USD85.67 per barrel from USD85.64 per barrel at Thursday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,326.09 an ounce from USD2,314.73 on Wednesday evening.

On Friday's macroeconomic calendar, the French producer price index is due at 0845 CEST, followed at 0900 CEST by the same figure in Spain.

In Germany, the unemployment rate is expected at 0955 CEST while at 1000 CEST Italian industrial sales will come out and at 1100, also from Itala, the consumer price index.

At 1200 CEST the Italian non-EU trade balance is expected.

In the afternoon, at 1430 CEST the US PCE price index will come out.

In Piazza Affari, the results of I Grandi Viaggi are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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