(Alliance News) - The Mib closed moderately lower on Monday, placing the point bar in the 32,900 area, as investors showed caution ahead of key events scheduled for the week such as the European Central Bank meeting, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony to Congress and the U.S. jobs report.

Of note, on Monday, the EU fined Apple EUR1.8 billion for violating EU blocking laws by preventing music streaming services from informing users about subscription options outside the App Store.

"The European Commission found that Apple applied restrictions to app developers by preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside the app," the EU antitrust body said in a statement. "This is illegal under EU antitrust rules," the note reads.

"The decision ignores the reality of a market that is thriving, competitive and growing rapidly," Apple said in a note, announcing that it will appeal. The Cupertino company's stock is currently giving up 2.8 percent.

Thus, the FTSE Mib closed down 0.1 percent at 32,912.34.

The Mid-Cap gained 0.4 percent to 45,952.93, the Small-Cap gave up 0.7 percent to 27,861.75, and the Italy Growth closed in the green by 0.2 percent to 8,206.50.

In Europe, Paris's CAC 40 closed as the only one in the green by 0.2 percent, London's FTSE 100 gave up 0.6 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 left 0.1 percent on the platter.

On the Mib, Saipem did best of all, closing up 4.9% with new price at EUR1.91 per share, on its third bullish daily candle after its excellent accounts released last week.

Boost also on Azimut, which joined the top group appreciating 1.7 percent as it awaits accounts due out on Thursday.

DiaSorin, on the other hand, gained 1.6 percent. The company announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new Liaison Plex platform and its first test panel, the Liaison Plex Respiratory Flex Assay.

Liaison Plex expands and consolidates DiaSorin's position in the syndromic multiplexing market, which has a global value of about USD2.9 billion and is estimated to grow to about USD4 billion by 2027.

Good buys also on Leonardo, in the green by 1.5 percent. The company on Thursday reported preliminary results that it ended 2023 with revenues of EUR15.30 billion, up 3.9% from EUR14.71 billion as of December 31, 2022, and in line with guidance. Order backlog amounted to EUR39.53 billion from EUR37.51 billion as of Dec. 31, 2022.

On the bottom Ferrari closed 2.9% in the red after Friday's green with 0.6%. Of note, Citigroup downgraded the stock to 'sell' from 'neutral'.

Nexi, on the other hand, left 2.8 percent on the parterre, after the previous session's 2.3 percent green, as it awaits its accounts due for release on Wednesday.

On the cadet segment, Maire Tecnimont brought home a 2.7 percent gain, in its third bullish session, on the eve of the publication of accounts.

Also among the best was De'Longhi, which closed 3.8 percent higher, echoing Friday night's 1.5 percent gain.

Digital Value - in the green by 2.8 percent - and Teradata, one of the world's leading companies in Datawarehouse solutions, announced Monday their strategic partnership for the Italian market, which includes an agreement to market Teradata's Datawarehouse and Analytics solutions, exclusively for the Finance and Public Administration sectors.

Fincantieri, on the other hand, closed down 4.2 percent, with new price in the EUR0.4730 area, after the 1.4 percent green in the previous session.

Piaggio -- down 5.9 percent -- reported Monday that it had achieved a net profit of EUR91.1 million in 2023, up 7.3 percent from EUR84.9 million in 2022. This is, the company pointed out, "the best result ever." The board will also propose a dividend balance of 8 cents per share, bringing the total dividend to 20.5 cents per share, up from 18.5 cents a year earlier.

On the Smallcap segment, Antares closed bullish with more than 15 percent, with new price at EUR2.60 per share, rebounding after three sessions closed with bearish candlestick.

Itway, on the other hand, picked up 2.4 percent with new price at EUR1.62 per share, on the back of the green in the last session that closed with a plus 7.6 percent.

Geox - flat at EUR0.7240 - reported Friday that the group's 2023 revenues were EUR719.6 million, down 2.2% from EUR735.5 million in 2022, but up 0.3% at constant exchange rates. Results for the fourth quarter were lower than the previous year with revenues from sales reaching EUR138 million, down 17 percent at current exchange rates.

algoWatt gave up 4.7 percent, with new price at EUR0.2250. The stock during the session updated its 52-week low to EUR0.2160.

Restart closed down 4.3 percent, after the previous session's 2.6 percent green.

Among SMEs, Arterra Bioscience advanced 6.7 percent to EUR1.92 per share, after a slight decline on Friday evening.

Good buying also on Almawave, which advanced 4.0%, rearing its head after three sessions closed among the bearish.

Askoll EVA closed down 5.8 percent, taking the price to new 52-week lows at EUR0.228.

Relatech - in the red by 3.7 percent - announced Monday that it has welcomed Nieco - New Ecological Initiatives - into DESK Membership, a long-term partnership that, in the name of innovation and digital evolution, makes available a suite of services guaranteed by the Relatech ecosystem.

In New York, the Dow is giving up 0.2 percent as is the Nasdaq, while the S&P 500 is down 0.1 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0859 versus USD1.0833 recorded at Friday's European stock close, while the pound is worth USD1.2696 from USD1.2651 on Friday evening.

Brent crude is worth USD83.25 per barrel versus USD83.91 per barrel at Friday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,116.67 an ounce from USD2,082.95 an ounce Friday night.

On Tuesday's macroeconomic calendar, inflation from Japan will be coming in at 0030 CET while at 0245 CET it will be the turn of China's services PMI. The same data will arrive for Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the Eurozone and the UK between 0915 CET and 1030 CET.

At 1000 CET, from Italy, the Gross Domestic Product figure will also be released. At 1100 CET, for the Eurozone, it will be the turn of the Producer Price Index.

From the U.S., coming up is the Services PMI at 1545 CET, at 1600 CET space is given to factory orders, and at 2230 CET eyes on the weekly oil stocks figure.

Among the companies in Piazza Affari, data from Acea, Ariston Holding, Banca Generali, Brembo, Maire Tecnimont and Promotica are expected.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to redazione@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2024 Alliance News IS Italian Service Ltd. All rights reserved.