(Alliance News) - European stock markets closed almost all just below par on Monday, with the exception of Piazza Affari, where the Mib ended the day up, driven by UniCredit and banking stocks.

As a result, the FTSE Mib closed up 0.8 percent to 30,952.79, the Mid-Cap gave up 0.3 percent to 45,082.06, the Small-Cap down 0.7 percent to 27,476.91, and Italy Growth advanced 0.3 percent to 8,275.16.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100, Paris' CAC 40 and Frankfurt's DAX 40 all closed just below par.

"It was a disappointing start to the week for European markets as investors continue to absorb last Friday's U.S. payrolls data and Fed Chairman Jay Powell's comments reiterating the hawkish message from last Wednesday's Fed press conference. The upward momentum was also tempered by a warmer-than-expected ISM services report, which could make the Federal Reserve even more cautious when it comes to cutting rates after prices paid jumped to the highest level in 11 months," comments Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets.

"The mood in Europe was not helped by further evidence of weak demand in the services sector, with weaker PMI numbers from Germany and France, while Germany's December import and export numbers slowed sharply, indicating that Europe's largest economy is likely in recession," the analyst concluded.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, UniCredit remained the best performer as at the open -- closing up 8.1 percent -- after sharing its consolidated group results as of Dec. 31 in the morning, with the year ending with a net profit of EUR8.6 billion up more than 50 percent from the previous year. The group closed with a ROTE at 16.6 percent from 10.7 percent in the previous year. In 2023, net book profit reached a record EUR9.5 billion, EUR3.0 billion higher than in 2022.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena followed, up 3.8 percent, and STMicroelectronics, in the green by 2.5 percent.

Other bankers also did well, with BPER Banca, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Banca Mediolanum posting gains of between 2.5 percent and 1.2 percent.

Among the bullish in the minority, Leonardo closed in the green by 1.6 percent after signing a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industry.

"The MoU covers broad areas in which Leonardo has well-established technological expertise, including space, helicopters, sensors and electronics, air combat, multi-domain integration, remotely piloted systems, digital technologies, services and industrialization processes," according to the press note.

Stellantis closed down 0.8 percent. Rumors and rumors about the transaction with Renault persisted throughout the weekend, until this morning John Elkann, chairman of Stellantis, tried to deny it: "There are no plans under study regarding merger operations of Stellantis with other manufacturers. The company is focused on the execution of the 'Dare forward' strategic plan and in the timely implementation of the projects announced to strengthen the business in every market where it is present, including Italy."

Renault, on the other hand, has made it known that it does not intend to comment on mere rumors, and this, according to many observers, would be an open door. Thus continue not only the rumors, but also the projections, which obviously start from the shareholding structures.

Snam - in the red by 1.3 percent - let it be known on Monday that it will launch, with the support of Confindustria, starting Feb. 7, a market test on the demand for hydrogen in Italy and, in collaboration with Eni, a collection of non-binding expressions of interest for the transport and storage of CO2 at the Ravenna site, as part of the carbon capture and storage project launched in recent months.

At the bottom are Telecom Italia and Tenaris, down 4.3 percent and 3.3 percent.

On the Mid-Cap, Maire Tecnimont - in the red by 1.4 percent - on Monday reported that it was awarded a FEED from MadoquaPower2X for the development of an integrated hydrogen and green ammonia plant in the Sines industrial zone in Portugal.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore - in the red by 0.9 percent - announced Thursday that its subsidiary Mondadori Libri Spa has finalized the acquisition of 51 percent of the share capital of Star Shop Distribuzione Srl, which operates in the comic book segment with publishing and gadgets and is particularly active in the distribution of third-party publishers in the comic book store channel and in the management of outlets - direct and affiliated - in the same segment.

The price, defined on the basis of an Enterprise Value related to 100% of the company of EUR9 million, is EUR4.6 million.

Credem, Saras and Intercos closed on the podium, with rises of 3.4 percent, 3.0 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

On the Small-Cap, Safilo Group -- down 1.1 percent -- announced Friday that it had signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Spaarkly, a digital-native company specializing in the development of innovative e-commerce solutions through augmented reality technology.

CY4Gate closed down 8.9 percent after announcing Friday that the board of directors reviewed some preliminary figures for 2023, which include orders of EUR73 million up 22 percent from 2022. Revenues increase to EUR65.0 million up 20 percent from the final 2022 figure and in line with the pro-forma full-year 2022 result.

At the top are Italian Exhibition Group, up 4.6 percent, and GPI, which gained 3.5 percent.

Geox -- up 1.7 percent -- released its preliminary consolidated revenues for fiscal 2023 on Thursday, which came in at EUR719.6 million, down 2.2 percent from the previous year, when they were EUR735.5 million, up 0.3 percent at constant exchange rates, affected mainly by the negative performance of the DOS channel -- Directly Operated Stores -- and only partially offset by the positive performance of the Multibrand channel.

Among SMEs, Jonix closed up 1.7 percent. On Monday it reported that it ended 2023 with revenues of EUR1.4 million compared to EUR4.4 million in the previous year.

Overseas revenues amounted to EUR440,000 and 31 percent of the total compared to EUR2.5 million in 2022, which was 58 percent of the total. Italy shows revenues of EUR980,000 compared to EUR1.9 million in 2022.

Franchetti did best of all with a 12 percent rise, which brings the price to EUR4.84 per share.

In New York, the Dow Jones gives up 0.9 percent, the S&P is down 0.5 percent as is the Nasdaq.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0733 against USD1.0792 recorded in Friday's European stock close while the pound is worth USD1.2528 from USD1.2640 on Friday evening.

Brent crude is worth USD77.38 per barrel versus USD77.30 per barrel at Friday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,021.59 an ounce from USD2,034.71 an ounce Friday night.

Tuesday's calendar opens at 0030 CET with data, coming out of Japan, on household consumption and average monthly wages, followed at 0101 CET by UK retail sales.

At 0800 CET, German factory orders will come out in Germany while at 0930 CET S&P Global's PMI index on the Italian, German, French and Eurozone construction sector is expected.

At 1000 CET, from Italy, coming in is the business and consumer confidence index while at the same time Eurostat will release consumer inflation expectations in the eurozone.

At 1030 CET in the UK the construction purchasing managers' index is due while at 1100 CET from Germany data on registered cars and in the eurozone retail sales will come out.

In the afternoon, building permits will come in from Canada and at 1800 CET car registrations in Italy.

In Piazza Affari, the results of some banks - Intesa Sanpaolo, FinecoBank and Banca Popolare di Sondrio - are expected, along with those of Anima Holding, Medica and Racing Force, among others.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News senior reporter

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