(Alliance News) - On Thursday in Piazza Affari, the blue chip index closed in an uptrend, taking the point bar to the 34,300 area -- thus confirming the highs since 2008 -- in the aftermath of the meeting of the most influential of central banks, the Federal Reserve.

Eccles Building kept rates steady and went on to signal three rate cuts for this year. Also on the subject of central banks, the Bank of England at its meeting Thursday voted by an 8-to-1 majority to keep its bank rate at 5.25 percent, while the Central Bank of Switzerland cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 1.5 percent, marking its first cut in nine years, a surprise move that made it the first major central bank to ease its restrictive monetary policy.

Meanwhile, new euro area PMIs showed a rebound in the services sector while the manufacturing sector remained subdued.

Thus, the FTSE Mib closed in the green 0.1 percent to 34,327.95, the Mid-Cap picks up 0.9 percent to 47,692.81, the Small-Cap is in the green 0.9 percent to 27,758.11 while Italy Growth is up 0.1 percent to 8,172.23.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.3 percent, London's FTSE 100 advanced 1.9 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 closed up 0.9 percent.

On the Mib, boost on FinecoBank, which closed bullish by 1.9% with price at EUR13.73 per share, in its third bullish session.

Strength also on Interpump, which closed with green candle by 1.7 percent with new price at EUR44.30 per share after 0.6 percent red on the eve. The company, after confirming good accounts, on Monday that the board resolved to pay a dividend of EUR0.32 per share, up from EUR0.30 paid last year.

On the heels of European registration data, Stellantis -- in the green by 1.0 percent -- reported that sales in February were up 11 percent from February 2023, with market share rising to 18.7 percent in February from 18.5 percent in February 2023.

Nexi, on the other hand, gave up 4.9 percent, after a 0.7 percent gain on the eve of the day that broke a five-session downtrend.

Down goes Terna, down 2.6% to EUR7.63. Goldman Sachs raised its target price to EUR7.95 from the previous EUR6.65. The company also reported that Moody's confirmed its 'Baa2' long-term rating on the company, with a Stable outlook.

Sales, among others, also on Telecom Italia, which gives up 4.0% following the previous three bearish sessions. Of note, BlackRock and Capital Fund exceed 0.5% short position on the stock.

On the cadet segment, ENAV rises 8.6% after announcing Thursday that it closed 2023 with a consolidated profit of EUR112.7 million from EUR105.0 million as of Dec. 31, 2022. The company said it has proposed a dividend of EUR0.23 per share from EUR0.1967 in 2022.

Cembre, on the other hand, advances 6.3 percent, after falling 0.2 percent in the previous session.

Good buys also on Ariston Holding, which rallied 4.7 percent, after the previous session's 0.8 percent green.

Fitch Ratings reported Wednesday that it upgraded Acea's outlook -- down 0.8 percent -- from Negative to Stable, confirming the long-term issuer default rating at 'BBB+.' In addition, the rating agency confirmed the short-term IDR at 'F2' and the long-term senior unsecured rating at 'BBB+'. The improved outlook reflects Acea's good financial performance recorded in 2023, careful working capital management, and net debt to EBITDA ratio in planned arc not exceeding 3.5 times.

At the tail end is Juventus FC, which closed down 7.7 percent, following the previous session's 3.0 percent red.

On the Small-Cap, boost on Antares Vision, which closed bullish by 9.6%--on its sixth bullish daily candle--and registers a plus 28% in the last month of trading.

doValue rises 1.8 percent after approving preliminary results as of Dec. 31 on Thursday, closing with a net loss, including nonrecurring items, of EUR17.8 million, compared to a EUR16.5 million profit in 2022. The company also approved the plan to 2026, which forecasts gross revenues in the range of EUR480-490 million, of which 35-40% are non-NPL. Gross Book Value in 2026 is expected to be about EUR110 billion with a funding rate of about 5.5%; ex-NRI Ebitda is given in the range of EUR185-195 million, with an Ebitda margin of about 39%.

Seco, on the other hand, advances 4.5 percent, following up on eve's 5.0 percent assets.

FILA -- in the red by 1.4 percent and on its third bearish run -- on Tuesday reported that it ended 2023 with consolidated revenues of EUR779.2 million from EUR764.6 million as of Dec. 31, 2022. Normalized net income for the period was EUR40.6 million from EUR42.8 million in 2022. The company said it has proposed to distribute a dividend of a maximum total amount of EUR6.1 million, confirming that of EUR0.12 per share in 2022.

Among SMEs, GEL stretched over 12 percent, following up on eve's gain, albeit by a more modest 2.3 percent.

Growens appreciated 3.8 percent, rewarded by good 2023 accounts. The company finished last year with a net profit of EUR53.2 million, compared to the EUR2.5 million red booked in 2022, "as a result of the extraordinary divestment operations carried out in 2023."

Altea Green Power rises 3.5 percent after announcing Thursday that a co-development agreement for electricity storage systems "BESS Storage" was signed with a major North American investment fund specializing in alternative energy. The value of the sale is more than EUR68 million plus a success fee of up to EUR15 million that will be defined in relation to the achievement of performance ratios agreed between the parties, the company explained in a note.

Among the bearish, Gibus left 4.3 percent on the parterre, following the eve's decline with 2.3 percent. From the accounts released Wednesday, it evicne that pretax profit fell to EUR6.9 million from EUR17.5 million and net income fell to EUR3.7 million from EUR10.3 million. The board proposed a dividend of EUR0.50 per share, unchanged from that paid in 2022.

In New York, the Dow is rising 0.8 percent, the Nasdaq is advancing 0.7 percent, and the S&P 500 is picking up 0.6 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0859 against USD1.0857 recorded in Wednesday's European stock close while the pound is worth USD1.2665 from USD1.2717 on Wednesday evening.

Brent crude is worth USD85.24 per barrel versus USD85.78 per barrel at Wednesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,178.50 an ounce from USD2,157.09 an ounce on Wednesday evening.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar opens at 0130 CET with Japan's inflation, followed at 0800 CET by the UK retail sales figure and the ifo index of business confidence in Germany.

At 1400 CET, a speech by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled, while at 1800 CET there will be the release of Baker Hughes data. In the evening, at 2130 CET, the COT Report will be published, as usual on Fridays.

Among the many expected results from the companies in the Piazza Affari are those of Brioschi, Class Editori, Fervi, Fope and Itway.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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