(Alliance News) - On Thursday, major European stock exchanges opened in positive territory -- with the exception of the London Stock Exchange -- on a morning dense with publications on the macroeconomic front and before Italy and the Eurozone release inflation data.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is in the green 0.4 percent to 29,791.89, the Mid-Cap is up 0.1 percent to 41,924.90, as is the Small-Cap at 26,178.64 and Italy Growth at 7,905.81.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.3 percent, London's FTSE 100 loses 0.1 percent while Frankfurt's DAX 40 rises 0.3 percent.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, STMicroelectronics takes the lead, rising 2.7 percent. The company together with ERG-through its subsidiary ERG Power Generation-announced Friday that they have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement for the supply of power from renewable sources to ST's Italian operating sites from 2024-2038.

In Italy, ST operates two high-volume semiconductor manufacturing sites in Agrate near Milan and Catania, as well as several sites dedicated to research and development, engineering, and sales and marketing activities.

Also on the podium is Leonardo, up 2.4 percent. Of note, the company announced Tuesday that it has received a new order from Omni Helicopters International - OHI - for three units, comprising two AW189s, powered by General Electric engines, and one AW189, with Safran engines.

Rounding out the podium are oils Tenaris and Saipem, in the green by 1.7 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

The latter announced Wednesday that it has been awarded two offshore contracts-one in Guyana and the other in Brazil- worth about USD1.9 billion.

On a negative note, Ferrari does worst of all and gives up 0.9 percent. Preceded by Iveco, in the red by 0.7% and Telecom Italia, down 0.6%.

TIM announced Friday evening that it had begun organizing the so-called NetCo, the business unit that will be contributed to FiberCop upon the closing of the transaction to sell the fixed network to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., scheduled for the summer of 2024.

The business unit "will include the fixed network infrastructure and related real estate, whose management, wholesale business, and the entire stake in the subsidiary Telenergia it will be in charge of," the company specified in a note.

The division consists of more than 20,000 people, of whom more than 19,000 already work in Wholesale & Network, with another 900 or so flowing in from TIM's staff functions.

On the Mid-Cap, Seco does best of all and rises 2.0 percent after announcing Thursday that it has signed a new business agreement with a leading global manufacturer of fully automatic coffee machines designed for both home and professional use.

The company expects the design win to generate revenues in excess of EUR50 million in the two-year period 2024-2025. Lottomatica Group -- in fractional green at EUR9.33 per share -- said it has completed the pricing of a total amount of EUR500 million of its senior secured floating-rate bonds maturing in 2030 at an issue price of 99.5 percent, with a coupon equal to the sum of the three-month Euribor rate -- subject to a floor of 0 percent -- plus 4.00 percent per annum. The offering is scheduled to close on December 14.

Maire Tecnimont - flat at EUR4.35 per share - on Tuesday announced that it has arranged for the early full redemption of the bond to 2024, resulting in the delisting of the related bonds from the markets organized and managed by Borsa Italiana and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The redemption price of EUR165.3 million corresponds to 100 percent of the nominal amount of the bond, together with interest accrued since the last coupon payment date.

On the Small-Cap, Mondo TV--in the red by 1.1 percent--announced Wednesday the airing starting in December on Rai Yoyo of the first episodes of the new animated series Grisù, the company's "flagship product at the industrial level, currently nearing completion."

Greenthesis is in the red by 2.3 percent. The company on Wednesday announced that the business project being developed by Rifuture Srl, a company belonging to the listed perimeter and indirectly controlled by the company, has been selected by the Gestore Servizi Energetici to fall within the production capacity quota and for the recognition of the related economic incentives.

KME Group - in the red by 0.3 percent - announced Tuesday that its subsidiary KME has finalized the closing of the agreement signed on Nov. 9 with the pool of lending institutions with an increase in the amount of the lines by an additional EUR50 million and thus for a total amount up to EUR460 million. At the same time the closing of the outstanding factoring lines for EUR376.5 million was also completed.

Olidata fell 3.5 percent. The company signed a deal with Snam--green by 0.1 percent on the Mib--with a value of EUR25 million. The deal provides for Olidata's support-through its subsidiary Sferanet-for most of the Data Center, Data Management and Security, and Network Security components, and for Snam's option to purchase according to its own plans.

Among SMEs, H-Farm -- in the green by 8.8 percent -- reported Thursday that it closed the year ended Aug. 31 with a loss of EUR8.9 million, from a profit of EUR17.7 million in the previous year.

For the full year, production value stood at EUR36.1 million, down from EUR45.2 million in 2022.

Destination Italia - down 5.9 percent - reported Tuesday that the group exceeded EUR6.5 million in terms of the order book referring to tourist bookings of departures that will take place in the year 2024, marking an increase of more than 70 percent compared to the same period in the year 2022.

Circle - up 1.6 percent to EUR6.50 per share - announced Monday evening the approval by FILSE on behalf of Regione Liguria of the "TULIP" project, an acronym for Terminal and mUltimodal Logistic Innovations for the Port and hinterland environment. The 18-month project awards Circle a grant of about EUR220,000 and will have a positive impact on several logistics sectors, starting with port terminals and inland nodes.

In Asia, the Nikkei gained 0.5 percent to 33,486.89, the Hang Seng closed in the green 0.3 percent to 17,042.88, as did the Shanghai Composite at 3,029.67.

In New York on Wednesday, the Dow Jones closed fractionally in the green at 35,430.42, the S&P finished down 0.1 percent at 4,550.58, and the Nasdaq closed 0.2 percent in the red at 14258.49.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0973 against USD1.0965 recorded in Wednesday's European stock close while the pound was worth USD1.2699 from USD1.2674 on Wednesday evening.

Brent crude is worth USD83.09 per barrel versus USD82.38 per barrel at Wednesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,047.10 an ounce from USD2,041.00 an ounce on Wednesday evening.

Thursday's macroeconomic calendar includes from Germany, at 0955 CET, the release of the unemployment rate, followed five minutes later by the Italian figure. Also from Italy, at 1100 CET, focus on the inflation figure. At the same time, the Eurozone inflation rate and Gross Domestic Product will also be released.

From the U.S., at 1430 CET coming up on Continuing Unemployment Claims and the PCE Price Index.

At 1730 CET, on the other hand, four- and eight-week Treasury bond auctions are scheduled.

On the corporate calendar, Zucchi's results are expected.

By Claudia Cavaliere, Alliance News reporter

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