(Alliance News) - On Friday, European stock markets--according to the IG futures market--marked a bullish path for the last session of the week, following declines registered in previous sessions. The Federal Reserve's latest minutes were particularly "aggressive," driving up Treasury yields. Gilt yields also picked up, as investors now discount an even higher central bank benchmark interest rate in the UK.

On Thursday, ADP payrolls data showed that U.S. private sector employment grew by nearly half a million jobs, up 497,000 in June from 278,000 in May.

The FTSE Mib, after closing down 2.5 percent at 27,506.91 last night, marks a rise of 70.00 points.

Last night the Mid-Cap lost 1.9 percent to 41,681.48, the Small-Cap gave up 1.7 percent to 26,507.17, and Italy Growth gave up 0.5 percent to 9,015.05.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is up slightly at 3.50 points, Paris' CAC 40 is advancing 29.20 points, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is climbing 55.00 points.

On the main list in Piazza Affari last night, with the exception of FinecoBank, which closed up 6.0 percent, and Recordati, up 0.2 percent, all other companies in the basket finished the session sharply down.

Amplifon did worst of all, losing 5.6 percent, followed by STMicroelectronics, down 5.2 percent.

The hearing implants company did not benefit from the news of its entry as main partner in Next Age, the first accelerator in Europe that invests in startups developing products or solutions dedicated to the silver economy.

Next Age is part of the national CDP Venture Capital accelerator network, a network that now has 18 hubs throughout the country to promote and support the growth of young companies specializing in high-potential markets.

Ferrari gave up 2.8 percent after announcing that it has launched an offer aimed at bondholders of the EUR650.0 million loan maturing in 2025, for a maximum of EUR175.0 million.

The offer is being made as part of the active management of the company's financial liabilities and is intended to proactively manage the upcoming repayments and maturity profile of the company's debt. Ferrari intends to cancel all notes that were accepted for purchase.

The Ferrero family has decided to write down its stake in Mediobanca--down 2.3 percent--in a EUR6 million adjustment that is not the last such transaction by the Alba confectionery dynasty in recent years.

On the Mid-Cap, Acea lost 3.3 percent after the European Investment Bank announced Thursday that it had provided EUR435 million in financing for the company, which will use the funds to improve the quality and resilience of its water service.

The EIB is co-financing the 2023-2026 investment plan of Acea Ato 2, a group company that manages water service in Rome and metropolitan area, to support the modernization of water and wastewater infrastructure, improving coverage and quality of integrated water services and making operational efficiency improvements such as reducing water losses and increasing energy efficiency.

MFE saw its A shares close down 2.4 percent and its B shares end up 2.7 percent in the red after Pier Silvio and Marina Berlusconi together get the majority of Fininvest as they reach 53 percent of the group with equal shares, after Silvio Berlusconi's will was opened.

Anima Holding closed down 1.7 percent. The group's net inflows of assets under management in June were positive at EUR212 million. At the end of June, total assets under management by the Anima group stood at about EUR185 billion.

Safilo Group lost 4.3 percent the day after announcing that, following the company's previous announcements regarding the sale of the Longarone plant, negotiations with entrepreneur Carlo Fulchir are at an advanced stage, which, in conjunction with the potential transaction with Thelios already announced, would allow the preservation of the site's know-how and the total relocation of the current 458 workers.

Among the lower-capitalization companies, Pierrel lost 6.1 percent after the board of directors on Wednesday evening set the final terms and conditions of the capital increase, to be offered in option to those entitled to it for a maximum amount of EUR70 million, including share premium, to be paid in cash, including by offsetting certain, liquid yet still uncollectible receivables.

Specifically, the board resolved to issue a maximum of 47.8 million newly issued Pierrel ordinary shares, with no express par value, having the same characteristics as the shares already outstanding and regular dividend entitlements, to be offered under option to eligible shareholders in the ratio of five new shares for every Pierrel share held, at a subscription price of EUR1.529 per new share, of which EUR0.138 is to be charged to share capital and EUR1.391 to share premium.

LVenture did not trade after completing part of the EUR2.5 million capital increase, to be executed through the issuance of 5.8 million new shares in the company.

In detail, the first tranche of the capital increase to service the merger with Digital Magics -- up 0.7 percent among SMEs -- was reserved for LUISS University in the amount of EUR1.0 million, with the issuance of 2.3 million new shares in the company. The second tranche of EUR1.5 million, with issuance of 3.5 million new shares, is also reserved for LUISS University but will be subscribed upon execution of the deed of merger between LVenture and Digital Magics.

On the Italian stock exchange's alternative capital market, Redelfi closed down 0.5 percent after reporting Thursday that its subsidiary CerLab had signed a framework agreement with Swiss-registered Raviero, a logistics operator active in the renewable energy market.

The purpose of the agreement is to purchase projects provided with all necessary authorizations for the construction and operation of photovoltaic systems on solar slabs of residential and industrial buildings, to be used to serve Renewable Energy Communities in the Italian territory. The target set is about 60 MW of authorized projects over the next three years, to be built and made available to Energy Communities.

expert.ai rose 7.5 percent after signing an investment agreement with the company's main shareholders and GUM Group, under which the latter committed to subscribe to a capital increase totaling EUR3.8 million.

As a result, the board of directors resolved to increase the company's share capital, in an indivisible manner, for cash by a maximum of EUR3.8 million, of which EUR3.79 million is share premium and EUR49,918.76 is share capital, by issuing nearly 5.0 million new ordinary shares, no par value, to be offered for subscription to GUM. The unit subscription price of the newly issued shares was determined to be EUR0.77 per share.

Innovatec lost 1.2 percent after reporting that the subholding company Haiki+, active in the environmental sustainability and circular economy business, received a EUR10 million loan from Ver Capital SGR, through the Ver Capital Credit Partners SME VII Fund, aimed at supporting the business unit's development project.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow fell 1.1 percent, while the Nasdaq was down 0.8 percent as was the S&P 500.

Among Asian exchanges, the Hang Seng is giving up 0.5 percent, the Shanghai Composite is just below par , while the Nikkei closed down 0.9 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0892 versus USD1.0839 on Thursday in closing European equities. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2742 from USD1.2681 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD76.79 per barrel versus USD75.27 per barrel at Thursday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,914.25 an ounce from USD1,904.52 an ounce last night.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar features Italy's retail sales at 1000 CEST. At 1300 CEST, focus on Spanish consumer confidence.

From the US, at 1430 CEST, will come June private sector employment data along with the unemployment rate. At 1900 CEST, eyes on Baker Hughes' drilling rig numbers.

Among the companies in the Square of Business, no particular events are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News senior reporter

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