(Alliance News) - European stock markets move in a mixed trend Thursday as trading rooms show caution ahead of the ECB decision later today.

The Eurotower is expected to keep interest rates at historic highs, stressing the need for further evidence that inflation is under control before contemplating cuts in the cost of money.

The FTSE Mib is rising 0.1 percent to 33,394.76, after a morning largely spent in bearish territory.

The Mid-Cap is advancing 0.2 percent to 46,450.81, the Small-Cap is advancing 0.1 percent to 27,703.50, and Italy Growth is giving up 0.3 percent to 8,165.40.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is giving up 0.3 percent, Frankfurt's DAX 40 is giving up 0.1 percent, and Paris' CAC is marking plus 0.1 percent.

On the main list of Piazza Affari, boost on Saipem, which moves ahead 2.5 percent with new price at EUR1.98, after 2.2 percent red in the previous session. The stock--benefiting from recent good bullish numbers for 2023--had been coming from four closed sessions with bullish candles.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena also buys, which moves up 1.1 percent, following up on the 0.2 percent green of the eve.

Stellantis -- in the red by 0.1 percent -- announced Thursday that it plans a multibillion-dollar investment in South America. The automaker, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, announced Thursday that it will invest EUR5.6 billion in the region from 2025 to 2030. "The planned investments will support the launch of more than 40 new products during the period as well as the development of new bio-hybrid technologies, innovative decarbonization technologies throughout the automotive supply chain and new strategic business opportunities," the company said.

Nexi's board of directors -- down 2.8 percent -- approved consolidated financial results as of Dec. 31, 2023, closing with normalized group attributable earnings of EUR711.8 million with normalized earnings per share of EUR0.54, up 4.9 percent year-on-year. Reported group attributable loss is EUR1.01 billion as a result of EUR1.26 billion non-cash technical write-down of the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets due to share price movements and current market conditions.

Telecom Italia -- in the red by 8.2 percent -- reported Wednesday that its board of directors reviewed its 2023 figures, confirming preliminaries, which saw revenues of EUR16.30 billion from EUR15.79 billion in 2022. Ebitda amounted to EUR5.71 billion from EUR5.35 billion in 2022, with a margin of 35.0% from 33.9% a year earlier. Operating income rises 38% to EUR836 million from EUR606 million, with marigne of 5.1% from 3.8%, while net loss narrows to EUR1.44 billion from EUR2.93 billion a year earlier.

On the MidCap, Maire Tecnimont takes the lead, confirming itself as the best performer since the bell rang with a 3.5 percent gain at Noteworthy during the session it touched its new 52-week high at EUR6.86.

Philogen is advancing 3.5 percent to EUR18.00 per share after 2.3 percent red on eve, up 5.3 percent on a weekly basis.

Buzzi Unicem, on the other hand, is leading the price ahead 3.4 percent, on the heels of the eve's gain that closed with a plus 0.6 percent.

Salvatore Ferragamo -- in the 3.3 percent letter -- reported Wednesday that it ended 2023 with a net profit of EUR26 million, down 60 percent from EUR65 million in 2022. Revenues fell 7.6 percent to EUR1.16 billion from EUR1.25 billion, "at a time when the company is proceeding with the transition of its product offering, while continuing to optimize its distribution network, amid greater demand uncertainty in the luxury sector," the company said- Gross margin increased to 72.6 percent from 72.0 percent a year earlier, with Ebitda falling 16 percent to EUR252 million from EUR299 million a year earlier.

Carel Industries, on the other hand, is closing the list with a 9.3 percent loss after a 1.4 percent green on Wednesday night following the release of its accounts. Net income, on the other hand, is EUR70.9 million, up 14 percent from EUR62.1 million a year earlier. The board proposed a dividend of EUR0.19 per share, up from EUR0.18 paid last year.

On the SmallCap, algoWatt goes into volatility auction after rising 17 percent to EUR0.1782 per share, rearing its head again after five bearish sessions. The company said Wednesday that it was not aware of any events or news that may have triggered the stock's recent movements on the Milan Stock Exchange.

"In relation to the performance of the stock on the Stock Exchange in recent sessions and in order to correctly inform the market, algoWatt communicates that it is still awaiting the pronouncement of the Court of Milan regarding the request for an extension of the deadline granted for the filing of a final proposal for a group arrangement with creditors or an application for homologation of group debt restructuring agreements," the company explained.

Fidia, on the other hand, rises 8.1 percent, in the green after two bearish sessions. The company announced Thursday that it has started with the Court of Ivrea the process related to the settlement of the last tranche under the arrangement procedure and reserved for unsecured creditors, for a total amount of EUR1.5 million. In fact, the relevant sums necessary for payment have been credited to the escrow account in the name of the procedure.

Among SMEs, High Quality Food positions the bar up 9.2 percent. The stock-which has an annual volatility of 62-positions the price at EUR0.82, following six flat sessions.

Health Italia advances 3.7 percent with price at EUR1.40 per share, in its second bullish session.

Ecomembrane advances 3.6 percent with new price at EUR6.32 per share.

At the tail end, Fope is giving up 3.3%, raising its oars after four sessions in the black.

In New York, the Dow has picked up 0.2 percent, the Nasdaq is advancing 0.6 percent, and the S&P 500 is advancing 0.5 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0896 against USD1.0885 recorded at last night's European stock close, while the pound is worth USD1.2739 from USD1.2726 on Wednesday night.

Brent crude is worth USD82.41 per barrel versus USD83.17 per barrel at Wednesday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,156.45 an ounce from USD2,147.20 an ounce last night.

On Thursday's macroeconomic calendar, at 1415 CET, focus on the ECB decision, followed 30 minutes later by the lecture by Eurotower number one Christine Lagarde.

Overseas, at 1430 CET, it will be the turn of the US jobless claims and trade balance while, at 1600 CET, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will address the US Congress. The day closes with the Fed's budget, coming at 2230 CET, and will be interspersed with speeches by other central bankers, in Europe and the US.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News senior reporter

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