(Alliance News) - On Wednesday, major European stock markets confirmed expectations and opened in positive territory on a quiet morning from a macro and corporate perspective.

Thus, the FTSE Mib opens in the green by 0.7 percent to 31,337.39 the Mid-Cap is in the green by 0.5 percent to 44,787.95, the Small-Cap rises 0.3 percent to 27,743.70, while Italy Growth is in the green by 0.2 percent to 7,799.16.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.3 percent, London's FTSE100 is down 0.5 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 is up 0.2 percent.

On the Mib, does best of all Banca Monte Paschi Siena, which rises 4.7 percent after closing up 8.7 percent yesterday. The bank reported Tuesday that it closed the first half of the year with a profit of EUR1.16 billion, up 87 percent from EUR619.0 million in the same period a year earlier. In addition, the board of directors, along with the half-year results, also approved the 2024-2028 business plan. The plan forecasts 2024 revenues at EUR3.84 billion and EUR4.06 billion in 2028; operating expenses of EUR1.87 billion in 2024 and EUR2.03 billion in 2028 while gross operating income is expected at EUR1.97 billion in 2024 and EUR2.02 billion in 2028.

Other banks also do well, with UniCredit rising 2.2 percent and BPM picking up 1.5 percent after reporting that it closed the first half of the year with adjusted net income of EUR776 million, up 19 percent from EUR as of June 30, 2023.

The company also explained that it reported a performance in the first six months that exceeded plan targets.

Net interest income stood at EUR1.72 billion in the period, up 11 percent from EUR1.55 billion in the first smestre 2023.

Banca Mediolanum - in the green by 1.0 percent - reported July trading results on Tuesday. Total net inflows amounted to EUR674.0 million and EUR6.34 billion since the beginning of the year. Net inflows in assets under management amounted to EUR1 billion, and EUR4.09 billion since the beginning of the year.

Among the bearish performers, BPER Banca gives up 2.1 percent and sits on the bottom after it reported Wednesday that it closed the first half of the year with a parent company profit of EUR724.2 million from EUR704.6 as of June 30, 2023.

Net interest income for the period stood at EUR1.68 billion from EUR1.54 billion in the first half of 2023.

Also going down are Amplifon, Stellantis, and Campari, down between 1.0 percent and 0.6 percent.

On the cadet list, Credito Emiliano -- in the green by 0.4 percent -- closed down for the fourth session in a row. It reported Monday that it closed the first half with a profit of EUR323.8 million from EUR298.7 million as of June 30, 2023. During the period, net interest income amounted to EUR617.9 million from EUR539.7 million in the first half of 2023, while net interest and other banking income amounted to EUR1.03 billion from EUR968 million in the same period last year.

Fincantieri rises 0.8 percent after it announced Tuesday that Vard, the group's Norwegian subsidiary, has signed a contract for the design and construction of a modern Energy Construction Vessel for Wind Energy Construction, a Norwegian company partly owned by the founders of Norwind Offshore. The parties also agreed on an option for a second vessel.

The new vessel, scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2027, will be built, outfitted, commissioned and delivered at the Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.

On the Small-Cap, FILA gives up 0.2 percent after announcing it approved consolidated results as of June 30. In the first half of 2024, normalized net income was EUR32.0 million, up sharply from EUR23.7 million in the same period last year, considering DOMS.

Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi Di Bologna - up 0.5 percent - on Monday reported that in July passengers exceeded 1.1 million for the first time, compared to the same month in 2023, making it the month with the highest level of passenger traffic in the airport's entire history.

Tesmec -- in the red by 0.2 percent -- reported Tuesday that it closed the first half of the year with a loss of EUR2.2 million down from a EUR2.6 million liability in the first half of 2023.

Revenues amounted to EUR124.2 million from EUR125.3 million as of June 30, 2023.

Landi Renzo -- in the green by 0.4 percent -- reported Monday that it closed the 2023 fiscal year with a loss of EUR35.2 million from a liability of EUR14.3 million recorded as of Dec. 31, 2022. Consolidated revenues for 2023 amounted to EUR303.3 million, up from EUR306.3 million a year earlier.

Among SMEs, EdiliziAcrobatica -- down 0.5 percent -- reported Wednesday that it closed the first half of the year with revenues of EUR70.6 million from EUR77.6 million as of June 30, 2023, of which EUR15.9 million was produced by Acrobatica Energy in relation to the superbonus.

Tenax International rises 6.1 percent after announcing on Tuesday that the pre-consolidation revenue recorded in the first half of the year amounted to EUR12.5 million, which is 70 percent compared to the entire 2023 revenue of EUR20.5 million and 139 percent compared to the revenue recorded in the first half of 2023.

The company also reported that the order book with 2025 delivery to date amounts to EUR1.9 million.

Masi Agricola is not yet affected by trading, but the company reported Tuesday that it closed the first half with a drop in profit to EUR22,000 from EUR1.8 million as of June 30, 2023.

Net revenues for the period stood at EUR30.2 million, down 8.8 percent from EUR33.1 million in the first half of 2023.

In Asia, the Nikkei rallied 1.2 percent, the Hang Seng gained 1.3 percent, and the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1 percent.

In New York on European night, the Dow closed in the green by 0.8 percent, the Nasdaq rose 1.0 percent, as did the S&P 500.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0919 versus USD1.0926 in Tuesday's European stock close while the pound was worth USD1.2702 from USD1.2693 Tuesday night.

Among commodities, Brent crude is trading at USD76.42 per barrel from USD76.80 per barrel at Tuesday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,432.85 an ounce from USD2,385.13 an ounce Tuesday evening.

Wednesday's macroeconomic calendar includes at 1300 CEST from the US the mortgage report, while at 1630 CEST the crude oil stocks figure, EIA report and Cushing's inventory will be released instead.

At 2130 CEST, however, a speech by McCaul of the ECB is scheduled.

On the corporate calendar, results from AbitareIn, doValue, illimity Bank, Interpump Group and Piovan are expected.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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