(Alliance News) - European markets that remained open on the first trading day of the year closed higher on Monday, with London and New York and the major Asian exchanges, with the exception of Tokyo, returning to trading tomorrow.

And, with the new year, macro indicators also return, with PMIs leading the way on the first useful day of 2023. The euro area manufacturing PMI rose to 47.8 in December from 47.1 in November, but remained below the 50.0 threshold that separates contraction from expansion in activity.

As S&P Global explains, sectoral data showed continued deterioration in consumer and intermediate goods markets while capital goods manufacturers showed marginal improvement.

Italy's manufacturing PMI rose to 48.5 in December from 48.4, remaining below the 50.0 mark that separates contraction from expansion in factory activity. The sharp decline in the final month of 2022 was driven by further declines in both production and new orders. Industrial production fell for the sixth consecutive month, and this was connected by survey participants to weak demand.

The FTSE Mib closed Monday up 1.9 percent to 24,158.28, the Mid-Cap gained 1.0 percent to 39,755.32, the Small-Cap was up 1.3 percent to 28,110.07, and Italy Growth was up 0.8 percent to 9,321.55.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 rose 2.0 percent and Frankfurt's DAX 40 closed up 1.2 percent while London was closed for a bank holiday.

Eni rose 3.2 percent after announcing the creation of Eni Sustainable Mobility, the new company dedicated to sustainable mobility.

As Eni explained, it is a vertically integrated company along the entire value chain that aims to provide progressively decarbonized services and products for the energy transition, accelerating the path to zero emissions throughout their entire life cycle.

Eni Sustainable Mobility will develop biorefining, biomethane and the sale of mobility products, services and solutions, in Italy and abroad, on a path that will see it evolve into a multi-service and multi-energy company. The company's biorefining and biomethane assets, which include the Venice and Gela biorefineries and the development of new projects such as Livorno and Pengerang, in Malaysia, which are now being evaluated, among others, have been brought into the company.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, Saipem did well, closing up 5.0 percent after a turbulent year, aided by changes in management and the EUR2.00 billion recapitalization closed last fiscal year.

Enel gained 2.8% after announcing Friday that Enel Brasil, a subsidiary through Chilean listed company Enel Américas, has finalized the sale of its entire stake in Brazilian power distribution company CELG Distribuição CELG D, amounting to about 99.9% of the latter's share capital, to Equatorial Participações e Investimentos, a subsidiary of Equatorial Energia.

On the Mid-Cap, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena rose 6.5 percent after after assurances on business continuity and speculation about possible extraordinary transactions for an orderly exit of the state from the subsidiary bank, with the aim of creating the conditions to form more banking hubs in Italy.

Anima Holding gained 0.9 percent. The company announced Friday that it is continuing its partnership with the Crédit Agricole Italia Group, adapting as necessary the previous agreement linking Anima and Credito Valtellinese.

The revision, as Anima explained in a note, became appropriate following the merger of Credito Valtellinese into Crédit Agricole Italia, effective April 24, 2022.

The agreement maintains its original term through 2027. CAI and Anima intend to preserve the industrial value of the partnership, related to the stability of assets under management.

On the Small-Cap, Autostrade Meridionali rose 11 percent after being suspended for excess volatility, boosted by the latest news about a possible increase in highway tolls.

Eems gained 1.5 percent. Majority shareholder Gruppo Industrie Riunite sold a number of ordinary shares in the company in the latest period.

Next Re lost 1.7 percent after announcing that it has signed with IHC Verona, a company subject to management and coordination by AHC International Consulting AG, the final purchase and sale agreement on the hotel property located in Verona, for a sale price of EUR7.4 million plus tax.

Among SMEs, Gismondi 1754 closed among the best with a 9.5 percent rise. On Friday, the company reported that-in the period between Dec. 26 and Dec. 30-it purchased 1,600 of its own shares.

MeglioQuesto - up 15 percent - reported Friday that the chairman of the board, Jaime Torrents Rotelli, bought 18,500 of the company's ordinary shares.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0668 against USD1.0686 at Friday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2051 from USD1.2058 on Friday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD85.91 per barrel from USD83.94 per barrel Friday night. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,823.70 an ounce from USD1,815.34 an ounce on Friday night.

Tuesday's macroeconomic calendar opens with the Chinese manufacturing PMI at 0245 CET while in the Eurozone, eyes are on the German unemployment rate at 0955 CET and the manufacturing PMI in the UK at 1030 CET.

The same indicator will come for the US at 1545 CET, anticipated at 1400 CET by Germany's inflation.

On the bond front, three- and six-month T-Note auctions will be held at 1730 CET.

Among the companies in the Piazza Affari, no particular events are planned.

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

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