(Alliance News) - Europe's major stock markets close almost all below par on Thursday, with the Mib contracting on a day packed with corporate results, while overseas they await U.S. employment data tomorrow that could ease concerns triggered by Powell's aggressiveness earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, in the week ended March 4, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased to 211,000 from 190,000 the previous week and compared to market expectations of 195,000.

Thus, the FTSE Mib closed in the red by 0.7 percent 27,710.53 as did the Mid-Cap at 44,402.26, the Small-Cap gave up 0.3 percent to 30,537.02, and Italy Growth was in the green by 0.1 percent to 9,480.03.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is in the red 0.1 percent, London's FTSE 100 is down 0.6 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is just above par.

"The poor performance of U.S. markets this year relative to Europe has seen bargain hunting unfold, and in particular the Nasdaq 100 is back where it was before the Fed chairman's testimony earlier in the week," commented Chris Beauchamp, analyst at IG. "Most investors are obviously now waiting to see how tomorrow's employment data, which will set the stage for U.S. inflation next week, will turn out.

On the Mib, only two stocks in green: STMicroelectronics and Inwit up 1.1 percent by 0.3 percent, respectively.

Azimut Holding retreats 3.2% after reporting Thursday that it has kept its dividend unchanged at EUR1.30 per share--with dividend yiel of 5.8%--despite declines in revenues and earnings for 2022.

Consolidated revenues fell to EUR1.29 billion in 2022 from EUR1.45 billion in 2021, and operating profit fell to EUR547 million in the full year from EUR707 million a year earlier.

Prysmian closes up 3.1 percent after announcing Thursday that 2022 net income rose to EUR509.0 million from EUR310.0 million a year earlier.

The board will propose a dividend of EUR0.60 per share from EUR0.55 in 2021.

Italgas gives up 2.1%. The board of directors on Thursday approved consolidated results as of December 31, 2022, reporting revenues of EUR1.54 billion up 12 percent from EUR1.37 billion in 2021.

Group net income amounted to EUR436.1 million up 14 percent from EUR383.4 million in 2021.

In addition, Italgas resolved to propose to the shareholders' meeting to distribute a dividend of EUR0.317 per share up 7.5 percent from EUR0.295 in 2021.

Banca Generali is in the lower quarters and gives up 4.1 percent after confirming that total net inflows in February stood at EUR442 million, for a total value since the beginning of the year of more than EUR859 million.

On the Mid-Cap, Cementir Holding closes down 1.7 percent. With net income up 43 percent, the board decided Thursday to increase the 2022 dividend by 22 percent to EUR0.22 from EUR0.18 paid last year.

The group's revenue from sales and services reached an all-time high of EUR1.72 billion, up 27 percent from EUR1.36 billion in 2021.

Autogrill closes in the green by 0.3 percent after approving Thursday consolidated results as of Dec. 31, 2022, ended with a loss of EUR53.7 million from the negative EUR37.8 million in 2021.

Consolidated revenues are EUR4.1 billion in 2022, up 50 percent at constant exchange rates from EUR2.6 billion in 2021. "Revenues in 2022 represent about 88 percent of the revenues recorded in 2019 at constant exchange rates, excluding divestments during the period."

Tinexta closed 3.0 percent in the red after ending 2022 with a net profit of EUR78.1 million compared to EUR38.7 million in 2021. The board proposed the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.51 per share.

Alerion Clean Power rises 2.9 percent. On Thursday it approved consolidated financial statements for 2022, in which it reported group net income of EUR71 million, up from EUR48.7 million in 2021.

The board proposed a dividend of EUR0.65 per share compared to EUR0.44 in 2021.

2022 revenues are EUR273.7 million, up from EUR153.8 million in 2021.

On the Small-Cap, Pierrel soars 7.6 percent after reporting 2022 net operating income of EUR1.4 million compared with a net loss of EUR400,000 last year.

TXT e-solutions rises 2.3 percent after approving Thursday its fiscal results as of Dec. 31, 2022 reporting revenues of EUR150.8 million up 56 percent from EUR96.4 million in 2021.

The board will also propose to the shareholders' meeting a dividend of EUR0.18 per share up from EUR0.04 in 2021.

Net income amounts to EUR12.00 billion up 8.0 percent from EUR7.83 billion in the previous year.

Gefran's board of directors -- down 1.9 percent -- on Thursday approved the cash flow statement for 2022, reporting a positive net profit of EUR10 million -- or 7.4 percent of revenues -- and compared with the also positive result of EUR13.7 million in the previous year.

The board proposed a dividend of EUR0.40 compared to EUR0.38 in the previous year.

Revenues rose to EUR134.4 million from EUR118.6 million in the previous year.

The board of BasicNet -- in the red by 1.4 percent -- approved the 2022 budget on Thursday, reporting a net income of EUR30.0 million from EUR20.3 million in 2021, up 48 percent.

The board will also propose a dividend of EUR0.18 per share, totaling about EUR9 million, up 50 percent from the previous year, when it was EUR0.12 per share.

d'Amico International Shipping advances with 2.4 percent after reporting a net profit in 2022 of USD134.9 million, compared with a net loss of USD37.3 million in 2021. The board thus proposed a dividend of USD0.0153 per share.

Among SMEs, Illa closes flat at EUR0.001 after announcing Friday that it will proceed with the regrouping of ordinary shares in the ratio of 1 new ordinary share for 100 existing shares. As a result, the number of outstanding shares will be reduced from the current 636.8 million to 6.4 million post regrouping. Therefore, the regrouping will take place on March 13, while March 10 will be the last day of trading of the stock pre-grouping.

On the bottom are Neurosoft, down 15 percent, and Fenix Entertainment, down 13 percent.

Reway closes up 16 percent after in yesterday's debut on the Stock Exchange.

In New York, the Dow is just above par%, the Nasdaq is rising 0.3%, and the S&P 500 is advancing 0.1%.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0581 versus USD1.0555 at Wednesday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.1927 from USD1.1834 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD83.25 per barrel versus USD82.38 per barrel Wednesday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,827.74 an ounce from USD1,817.47 an ounce at Wednesday's close.

Friday's economic calendar opens with Japanese household consumption data at 0030 CET.

Also from Japan, an interest rate decision is expected at 0330 CET followed at 0400 CET by the BoJ's statement on monetary policy and, at 0600 CET, the bank's press conference.

At 0800 CET, several macros are coming in from the UK, including January industrial and manufacturing production, GDP and trade balance.

At the same time, from Germany will come the consumer price index followed by the French trade balance at 0845 CET.

At 1000 CET, on the other hand, the producer price index will come out in Italy. At 1130 CET, there will be an auction of Italian 12-month BOTs.

In the afternoon, at 1400 CET, space the NIESR monthly indicator on UK GDP while in the U.S. labor data including hourly wages, nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate will come out.

The unemployment rate will also come from Canada, at 1430 CET.

On the Italian corporate front, results from Caltagirone Editore, Masi Agricola, and Tesmec are expected.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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